INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the work his Department is undertaking in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Hilary Benn: pursuant to the reply, 24 May 2006, Official Report, c. 1780-81W
	The figure given for DFID's spend in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 2001-02 was £7 million. This should have read £5.6 million, mostly on humanitarian interventions.
	An estimate was made for DFID's expenditure in 2005-06. This was premature, however, as DFID's 2005-06 out-turn figures have yet to be confirmed but are expected to be finalised by the end of August 2006.
	DFID funds available for the DRC this financial year were given as £63 million. The correct amount is £62 million.
	I apologise for these errors in the original answer.

HIV/AIDS

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect on treatment of HIV/AIDS in African countries of the departure of qualified doctors and nurses from the developing world for employment in the developed world.

Gareth Thomas: DFID supported analysis of the human resources for health crises in Africa for the High Level Forum for Health in November 2005. The migration of skilled health workers from poorer African countries to developed countries in Europe, the United States and elsewhere has a significant impact on the capacity of African national health services to deliver HIV and AIDS treatment, prevention and care. However, migration to other more developed African countries and internal migration from rural to urban areas are also important factors. Health worker shortages are exacerbated by AIDS-related mortality among the health work force. The result is an overburdened health work force and weak health systems with inadequate capacity to deliver services.
	DFID is working at country level to address human resources capacity and support Governments to implement policies on retention, skill mix and deployment. For example, DFID is supporting the health sector in Malawi—one of the most severely affected countries, with £100 million over five years. About £55 million of this is earmarked for the Emergency Human Resources Programme of the Malawi Government. This programme is aiming to increase recruitment and retention of staff by raising health worker salaries by 50 per cent., providing housing and improving training. This is expected to double the number of nurses and triple the number of doctors in training—while using international volunteers to fill gaps in the meantime. DFID is also funding country HIV and AIDS programmes to mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS on the health workers.
	DFID is also working closely with the Department of Health (DH) to address "pull" incentives, preventing the targeting of developing countries in the international recruitment of health care professionals within the NHS through the Code of Practice for International Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Ministerial Visits (Accommodation)

David Simpson: To ask the Solicitor-General what discounts are available in relation to hotel accommodation used by  (a) civil servants and  (b) special advisers in his Department.

Mike O'Brien: The Law Officers' Departments do not employ special advisers.
	The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO) and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) book hotel accommodation for civil servants with First Option through an Office of Government Commerce framework agreement. The agreement enables the CPS, RCPO and HMCPSI to secure specifically negotiated rates and value for money in hotel accommodation. Individual discounts are not available to civil servants under the contract but a rebate is paid at the end of each year.
	SFO books hotel accommodation through Expotel under an Office of Government Commerce framework agreement, unless exceptional circumstances apply. The Expotel agreement seeks the best rate within Government prescribed rates and also allows for a subsequent rebate.
	The Treasury Solicitor's Office (TSol) and this Office do not have arrangements which provide discounts but bookings are made within Government prescribed rates except in exceptional circumstances.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Catering Supplies

David Drew: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what environmental and social sustainability criteria are applied when purchasing food for the House dining rooms.

Nick Harvey: Last year, the House of Commons Commission approved and adopted an outline strategic plan covering the five years from 2006 until 2011. This plan explicitly states that the House administration must match current public service standards, including in the area of environmental protection. Food procurement tenders include consideration of bidders' environmental and ethical policies and procedures, but the precise evaluation criteria applied differ according to the nature of foods being supplied.

Refreshment Department (Alcohol Sales)

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what steps the House took to mark English Wine Week.

Nick Harvey: The Refreshment Department would have been pleased to support English Wine Week, which ran from 29 May until 6 June. This coincided with the spring bank holiday recess, so that most of the restaurants and bars in the House were closed. It was not considered viable to run a special promotion for the two days the House was sitting during this period.

Refreshment Department (Alcohol Sales)

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will take steps to ensure that a Sussex sparkling wine is added to the House of Commons wine lists.

Nick Harvey: The Refreshment Department is always pleased to consider new wines for addition to its wine lists. The Director of Catering Services is happy to advise any suppliers how to apply to have their wines included on the House of Commons wine lists.

Refreshment Department (Alcohol Sales)

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will take steps to ensure that Harvey's beer is considered for stocking in House of Commons bars during Cask Beer Week in September 2006.

Nick Harvey: The Refreshment Department supports the small independent brewers of Britain by offering a guest ale, changed weekly, in two of the House of Commons bars. This scheme does not operate during parliamentary recesses, when the bars are very quiet. It would therefore not be economic to support Cask Beer Week in September 2006 by stocking Harvey's or any other real ale. I have asked the Director of Catering Services to contact the hon. Member in relation to the prospects for offering Harvey's as a guest ale.

Staff Security Clearance

Andrew Dismore: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the  (a) shortest,  (b) longest and  (c) average time it has taken over the last 12 months to obtain security clearance for a House of Commons pass for hon. Members' staff working at Westminster; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: In the past 12 months it is estimated that the shortest time it has taken to obtain security clearance for a House of Commons pass has been approximately three weeks, the longest approximately 12 months, and the average approximately one month. This is dependent upon the nature of foreign connections, and the multiplicity of addresses which have to be checked by agencies both in this country and abroad.
	As hon. Members have been informed, the Deputy Serjeant at Arms can in certain circumstances authorise the issue of a pass on the basis of satisfactory references pending the receipt of final clearances.

Tours

Andrew Dismore: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will estimate the unit cost of the  (a) organisation of a tour of the House and  (b) cost of the tour itself; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: In the financial year 2005-06, the cost of organising a Member's guided tour was around £50. Each tour may contain the guests of a single or several Members.

Tours

Andrew Dismore: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many tours requested by hon. Members the House provided in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: Between June 2005 and May 2006, 7,374 tours were organised for hon. Members of both Houses by the Central Tours Office, covering around 119,000 guests. Some tours contained the guests of more than one hon. Member.

Equal Opportunities

Andrew Dismore: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what percentage of the House's senior staff are of minority ethnic origin; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: As at 31 March 2006, the House had 79 senior staff, 72 of whom have declared their ethnicity. One of these senior staff (1.4 per cent.) is identified as of minority ethnic origin.
	The proportion of ethnic minority staff across all pay bands is 19 per cent. The Commission is committed to valuing diversity throughout its workforce, and the board of management has made a commitment in its 2006 corporate plan to monitor the development of a diverse workforce at all levels by establishing gender and ethnic profiles by band and role.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House how many of his staff are  (a) under and  (b) over 55 years of age.

Jack Straw: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons currently has 12 staff, with one aged over 55 years of age.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House how many people over the age of 55 years have been recruited by his office in each of the last three years.

Jack Straw: None, but I am 59.

IT Refreshment Scheme

John Pugh: To ask the Leader of the House what the total cost is of the IT refreshment scheme to replace and install new computers for hon. Members; and how much of that cost is to be spent on  (a) implementing, installing and administering the scheme,  (b) leases of equipment and  (c) licensing of software.

Jack Straw: The cost of Members' IT installation and upgrade programme is borne mainly on the House of Commons: Members Estimate; but some costs are borne on the House of Commons: Administration Estimate which is the responsibility of the House of Commons Commission. The maximum estimated cash costs expected to be paid from the Members Estimate are:
	
		
			  £000 
			   Amount 
			 Administration costs including surveys,  storage and porterage 749 
			 Installation charges 646 
			 Equipment costs 3,085 
			 Software costs 1,188 
		
	
	The figures are provisional at this stage, as they depend significantly on the choices Members themselves make about the amount, type and location of the equipment they require.
	I understand that the costs borne on the Administration Estimate cannot easily be disaggregated from the other running costs of the Parliamentary ICT Service.

IT Refreshment Scheme

John Pugh: To ask the Leader of the House what percentage of hon. Members have had their leased equipment replaced under the IT refreshment scheme; and if he will list the hon. Members concerned.

Jack Straw: 58 per cent. of Members have now received their new equipment. The IT refresh project is being undertaken in phases, and all Members will have been given an opportunity to refresh their equipment before the summer recess, provided forms are returned and survey and installation dates are agreed as set out in the guidance issued to Members. Equipment is loaned and not leased to Members and whether Members choose to use their allowance or not is a matter for them.

Party Political Funding

Philip Davies: To ask the Leader of the House when he expects to publish the Government's response to the Electoral Commission's report of December 2004 on the funding of political parties.

Jack Straw: The Prime Minister announced on 16 March that there was to be an independent review of the funding of political parties. Sir Hayden Phillips is currently undertaking this review. It would neither be appropriate nor courteous to publish a response to the Commission's report prior to Sir Hayden Phillips reporting.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Welfare

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average period was between  (a) the state veterinary service and  (b) his Department receiving urgent animal welfare complaints and the making of a visit to the premises being complained about in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: Any complaints received by the Department are immediately passed to the state veterinary service (SVS). The SVS aims to respond within 24 hours of receiving a complaint. The figures for April 2005 to March 2006 show the average response time was 0.5 days.

Biofuels

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to promote  (a) the wider use of and  (b) research into biodiesel.

Stephen Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government announced in November 2005 that a Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) will be introduced from 2008 which will require all suppliers of transport fuels in the UK to ensure that a certain percentage of their total annual sales is made up of biofuels. The level of the obligation will rise from 2.5 per cent. in the financial year 2008-09 to 3.75 per cent. in 2009-10 and 5 per cent. in 2010-11. This should ensure that, by 2010, biodiesel sales in the UK will amount to over a billion litres a year—a 20-fold increase from where we are today.
	This Department has funded research in recent years into different aspects of biofuel production and use, but none has considered individual biofuels in any detail. Our research has focused instead on the potential environmental and other impacts of significant use of biofuels in the longer term, and on the emissions consequences and economics of various bioethanol and biodiesel blends. Research into biofuels will continue as part of the work the Department has commissioned to develop a carbon and environmental assurance scheme to underpin the RTFO.

Biofuels

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is towards the encouragement of biofuels as an alternative energy source.

Stephen Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are committed to encouraging the most sustainable forms of biofuels for emissions savings as well as for security of supply reasons. That is why we announced in November 2005 that we will introduce a Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation in April 2008 which will require all suppliers of transport fuels in the UK to ensure that a certain percentage of their total annual sales is made up of biofuels (or, in the longer term, some other renewable transport fuel).
	The level of the obligation will rise from 2.5 per cent. in the financial year 2008-09 to 3.75 per cent. in 2009-10 and 5 per cent. in 2010-11. These levels will deliver a significant increase on current sales and will mean that by 2010 the vast majority of UK forecourts will be supplying renewable fuels in the form of biodiesel and bioethanol. The RTFO will deliver real environmental benefits and is projected to save around 1 million tonnes of carbon by 2010.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent advice he has received on ways to improve the efficiency of testing cattle for bovine tuberculosis.

Ben Bradshaw: The single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin (SICCT) test is a well-established screening test for TB in cattle and the primary tool for live testing in Great Britain.
	The SICCT is approved and recognised by the EU Commission and the International Animal Health Organisation (OIE) as the primary tool for the diagnosis of TB in cattle and other species, by virtue of its overall accuracy, robustness and relative simplicity. This has been demonstrated in several field evaluations conducted throughout the world.
	The accuracy of any test is measured in terms of its specificity (proportion of uninfected animals identified as negative) and its sensitivity (proportion of infected animals detected as positive). The specificity for a correctly performed SICCT is above 99 per cent. Its sensitivity is between 77 per cent. and 95 per cent.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure adequate numbers of veterinary surgeons are available to test herds for bovine TB.

Ben Bradshaw: We recognise the importance of ensuring sufficient resources are available to carry out bovine TB testing. My officials closely monitor the situation and meet regularly with the veterinary profession.
	Last year the Government introduced legislation under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 to enable technical staff in the State Veterinary Service to carry out TB tests. A pilot study into lay TB testing is due to conclude shortly. We will consult the veterinary profession and other interested parties on the results and any proposals to extend lay testing.

End-of-Life Vehicles

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps the Environment Agency has taken to implement the end-of-life vehicle legislation;
	(2)  how many operators have been prosecuted due to failure to apply for a site licence for storing and treating end-of-life vehicles.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has transposed the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive (2000/53/EC) through the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/2635) and the End-of-Life Vehicles (Producer Responsibility) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/263). DEFRA has responsibility for Part VII of the 2003 Regulations, on the keeping and treatment of waste motor vehicles, and these provisions are enforced by the Environment Agency (EA) in England and Wales.
	All facilities treating un-depolluted end-of-life vehicles are required to have a permit, a condition of which is that the site in question must meet the minimum technical standards set down in Schedule 5 to the Regulations.
	There are currently around 1,100 'Authorised Treatment Facilities' for ELVs. The EA has worked closely with DEFRA, DTI and the vehicle dismantling sector to produce practical treatment guidance. Sites that hold the necessary site licence are inspected by the EA to ensure that they meet required standards. The EA also investigates sites thought to be handling vehicles illegally.
	In 2004, the EA took forward 15 prosecutions for offences involving the keeping or treatment of ELVs. The figure for 2005 was 30. There have been 13 in the first five months of 2006. These are cases where ELVs were the main, or a significant proportion of, the waste being handled illegally.

End-of-Life Vehicles

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidelines have been issued by his Department to authorised treatment facilities licensed to store and treat end-of-life vehicles.

Ben Bradshaw: 'Guidance for Authorised Treatment Facilities', a booklet providing guidance on de-polluting end-of-life vehicles, has been issued by the Department and is available from:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/topics/elvehicledir.htm

End-of-Life Vehicles

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will list the operators in North Devon who have been issued with a licence for storing and treating end-of-life vehicles.

Ben Bradshaw: The operators in North Devon who have been issued with a licence for storing and treating end-of-life vehicles are listed in the following table.
	
		
			  Company name (licence  holder)  Address 
			 Mr. R. Penfold, South Molton Metals Pathfields Business Park, Quicks Close, Hacche Lane, South Molton, Devon 
			 Esau's Vehicle Dismantlers, Mr. A. J. Esau and Mr. P. L. Cridge Adjavin Lane, Clovelly Road, Bideford, Devon 
			 Oxy Ltd., Stoneybridge Vehicle Dismantlers Stoneybridge, Knowle, Braunton, Devon 
			 James Sherlock BMW Motorcycles 3 Cooks Cross Industrial Estate, South Molton, Devon 
			 Mr. A. C. Poulton, Deepmoor Deepmoor, St. Giles in the Wood, Torrington, Devon 
			 Mr. G. Holmes and Mr. P. Holmes No 2 Yard, Patchacott Cross, Patchacott, Seaworthy, Devon 
			 Gilead Foundation Charity Risdon Farm, Jacobstowe, Okehampton, Devon 
			 Mr. Stephen W. Bolt and Mr. Michael Pilivant 3 Oaklands Drive, Okehampton, Devon 
			 Mr. C. E. K. Patience 29 Yelland Road, Fremington, Barnstaple, Devon 
			 Bedminster Estates Limited Seven Brethren Industrial Estate, Barnstaple, Devon 
			 Mr. H. and Mrs. E Penfold Sunnyside, Station Road, South Molton, Devon 
		
	
	In order to treat end-of-life vehicles, licensed sites also need to meet the requirements of the End-of-Life Vehicle Regulations 2003. To do this they need to have the necessary infrastructure in place to be an authorised treatment facility (ATF). The Environment Agency inspects and approves such facilities under these Regulations. At present only those sites listed below are both licensed and authorised to treat end-of-life vehicles.
	
		
			  Company name (licence  holder)  Address 
			 Mr. R. Penfold t/a South Molton Metals Quicks Close, Hacche Lane, South Molton, Devon 
			 Esau's vehicle dismantlers Clovelly Road, Bideford, Devon 
			 Oxy Ltd. t/a Stoneybridge Vehicle Dismantlers Stoneybridge, Knowle, Braunton, Devon 
			 James Sherlock BMW Motorcycles 3 Cooks Cross Industrial Estate, South Molton, Devon 
		
	
	There are a number of sites in North Devon that are registered as exempt from the requirement to have a waste management licence under paragraph 45 of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 (as amended). This exemption allows for the storage of dry ferrous and non-ferrous metals and storage of depolluted end-of-life vehicles. It does not allow for the storage and treatment of un-depolluted vehicles for which a licence would be required.

Export Health Certificates

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of export health certificates have been granted within agreed timeframes in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: The state veterinary service (SVS) only holds reliable and accessible figures for the period from January to April 2006. Applications for export certificates need to be made 10 working days before export. The following table shows the SVS success rate for timely applications:
	
		
			   Success rate (percentage) 
			 January 2006 99.7 
			 February 2006 99.8 
			 March 2006 99.5 
			 April 2006 99.2 
		
	
	This compares favourably with the SVS's target of processing 95 per cent. of timely applications within the agreed time frame.

Poultry Keepers

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many keepers of poultry with flocks of fewer than 50 there are; and what estimate he has made of how many chickens this represents.

Ben Bradshaw: The June Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture for 2005 shows that there are approximately 21,000 registered poultry holdings in England with fewer than 50 birds. This represents approximately 350,000 chickens, or 0.3 per cent. of the national flock.
	These figures only represent poultry kept on registered holdings in England. There are likely to be a significant number of poultry keepers with fewer than 50 birds that are kept on unregistered holdings, including domestic premises. No estimate is available for unregistered keepers.

Recycling

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to increase the level of recycling; and what additional resources will be granted to  (a) local authorities and  (b) the Waste Resources Action Plan to achieve this.

Ben Bradshaw: The review of England's Waste Strategy, due to be published later this year, will put forward a range of measures to build on recent improvements in recycling. The proposed target increases for household waste recycling are 40 per cent. by 2010, 45 per cent. by 2015 and 50 per cent. by 2020.
	Local authorities' main source of funding for waste management is the environmental, protective and cultural services (EPCS) block of the revenue support grant, distributed by central Government each year. In the last Spending Review (SR2004) the Government announced an increase in the EPCS block of £888 million by 2007-08 over 2004-05. A further £260 million through the waste performance and efficiency grant and £535 million in private finance initiative credits were also made available by 2007-08.
	For 2006-07, the Waste Resources and Action Plan (WRAP) has been allocated £10.8 million for market development work, £40 million under the Waste Implementation Programme (to divert biodegradable municipal waste from landfill), £9 million under the Business Resource Efficiency and Waste programme and £5.5 million under the Aggregate Sustainable Levy Fund.

Recycling

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will amend local authority league tables on recycling to give greater weight to waste minimisation.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 12 June 2006
	Local authorities are assessed against a number of indicators on household waste which include the percentage sent for recycling or composting and the total weight collected per head. The Audit Commission publishes information on local authority performance against these indicators each year. This is available from the Audit Commission website:
	http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/performance/data provision.asp
	Currently, there is no local authority statutory performance standard for waste minimisation. However, as part of the review of England's Waste Strategy, Defra is looking at what levels and what forms of targets and indicators will, in the longer-term, be the most efficient at continuing the recent improvements we have seen in waste performance. The review will take into account existing policies designed to make waste management more sustainable, and consider how best to present information on local authority waste performance, consistent with sustainable waste management objectives.

Recycling

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of  (a) plastic and  (b) glass bottles were recycled in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: Each year the Department publishes its Packaging Data Note (which can be found on the Defra website), giving the overall tonnages of all glass and plastic packaging waste recycled each year. These are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Glass packaging waste recycled 
			   Tonnes 
			 2001 766,000 
			 2002 747,000 
			 2003 862,000 
			 2004 1,050,000 
			 2005 1,260,000 
		
	
	
		
			  Plastic packaging waste recycled 
			   Tonnes 
			 2001 270,000 
			 2002 360,000 
			 2003 321,000 
			 2004 344,000 
			 2005 414,000 
		
	
	2005 figures are subject to confirmation. It is estimated that of the total amount of glass packaging waste recycled in 2004, approximately 75 per cent. were glass bottles. Of the total amount of plastic packaging waste recycled, about 10 per cent. is estimated to have been plastic bottles.
	The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2005 place an obligation on producers who put packaging on the market to recover and recycle packaging waste. The packaging targets increase each year and we expect the amount of glass and plastic packaging waste (including bottles) recycled to also increase.

Supermarkets

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department will give evidence to the forthcoming Competition Commission inquiry into the impact of supermarkets on market towns and out-of-town superstores in rural areas.

Barry Gardiner: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 18 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1129.
	My noble Friend Lord Rooker, the Minister for Sustainable Farming and Food has since written to the Competition Commission to highlight a number of areas which the Commission may wish to consider as part of its investigation. In doing so, he confirmed that the Department is willing to provide the Commission with any assistance or information it may request. A copy has been placed in the House Library and on Defra's website.

Waste Facility (Wrexham)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the closure of the agricultural waste collection facility near Wrexham.

Ben Bradshaw: I understand the facility which was approved for the collection of fallen stock was closed on 26 May when council officers inspected the plant after members of the public raised health concerns over the number of dead carcases on site.
	The local authority and state veterinary service is now working with the facility to clear the backlog of carcases with a view to reinstating the approval of the site to begin receiving fallen stock again as soon as possible. In the mean time farmers in the area have been given a choice of alternative collectors and a good fallen stock collection service remains available to them under the National Fallen Stock Scheme.

Waste Management

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of increased incineration of waste on the environment.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra published the independent Review of the Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management, in 2004, which was peer reviewed by the Royal Society. The review concluded that, based on the evidence from studies so far, the treatment of municipal solid waste—including by incineration—has, at most, a minor impact on human health and the environment. Defra has also recently published a study, "Impact of Energy from Waste and Recycling Policy on UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions", in support of a review of the Government's waste strategy. This is available on the Defra website:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/pdf/ermreport.pdf
	9 per cent. of waste is currently incinerated in England, but an increase is likely to be needed to be able to meet landfill directive targets, despite big improvements in waste recycling and minimisation. Recovering energy from waste through incineration produces many fewer greenhouse gas emissions than landfilling. Deriving energy from biodegradable waste also helps to offset fossil fuel generation.
	The Environment Agency ensures that emissions and other outputs from waste management facilities are within the limits set by the EU and the UK Government to minimise any negative impact. Incinerators are also required to conform to tighter emission standards than other types of combustion plants.

Waste Management

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of the UK's waste was  (a) recycled and  (b) sent to landfill in the last period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: In 2002-03, the estimated proportion of controlled waste which was landfilled in the UK was 43 per cent. In the same year, the estimated proportion which was recycled or reused was 42 per cent.
	This encompasses waste collected from household, industrial, commercial, construction and demolition sources.

Whaling

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of whales killed for scientific research in each year since the international moratorium on commercial whaling was introduced, broken down by species.

Ben Bradshaw: Up to 2005 the number of whales taken each year, by species and by country for scientific whaling (since the moratorium was introduced in 1986) are shown in the following table as reported to the International Whaling Commission.
	
		
			   Country  Species taken  Number 
			 1986 Iceland Fin 76 
			   Sei 40 
			  Rep. of Korea Minke 69 
			 
			 1987 Iceland Fin 80 
			   Sei 20 
			 
			 1987-88 Japan Minke 273 
			 
			 1988 Iceland Fin 68 
			   Sei 10 
			  Norway Minke 29 
			 
			 1988-89 Japan Minke (inc. 5 dwarf) 241 
			 
			 1989 Iceland Fin 68 
			  Norway Minke 17 
			  Japan Minke (inc. 3 dwarf  and 1 lost) 330 
			 
			 1990 Norway Minke 5 
			 
			 1990-91 Japan Minke (inc. 4 dwarf) 327 
			 1991-92 Japan Minke 288 
			 
			 1992 Norway Minke (inc. 3 lost) 95 
			 
			 1992-93 Japan Minke (inc. 3 dwarf) 330 
			 
			 1993 Norway Minke 69 
			 
			 1993-94 Japan Minke 330 
			 
			 1994 Norway Minke 74 
			  Japan Minke 21 
			 
			 1994-95 Japan Minke 330 
			 
			 1995 Japan Minke 100 
			 
			 1995-96 Japan Minke 440 
			 
			 1996 Japan Minke 77 
			 
			 1996-97 Japan Minke 440 
			 
			 1997 Japan Minke 100 
			 
			 1997-98 Japan Minke 438 
			 
			 1998 Japan Minke 100 
			 
			 1998-99 Japan Minke 389 
			 
			 1999 Japan Minke 100 
			 
			 1999-2000 Japan Minke 439 
			 
			 2000 Japan Minke 40 
			   Bryde's 43 
			   Sperm 5 
			 
			 2000-01 Japan Minke 440 
			 
			 2001 Japan Minke 100 
			   Bryde's 50 
			   Sperm 8 
			   Sei (in error) 1 
			 
			 2001-02 Japan Minke 440 
			 
			 2002 Japan Minke 102 
			   Bryde's 50 
			   Sei 40 
			   Sperm 5 
			   Minke 50 
			 
			 2002-03 Japan Minke (inc. 1 lost) 441 
			 
			 2003 Iceland Minke (inc. 1 lost) 37 
			  Japan Minke (inc. 1 lost) 101 
			   Bryde's 50 
			   Sei 50 
			   Sperm 10 
			   Minke 50 
			 
			 2003-04 Japan Minke (inc. 3 lost) 443 
			 
			 2004 Iceland Minke 25 
			  Japan Minke 100 
			   Bryde's (inc. 1 lost) 51 
			   Sei 100 
			   Sperm 3 
			   (inc. 1 lost) 60 
			 
			 2004-05 Japan Minke (inc. 1 lost) 441

Whaling

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the UK's objectives are for the next International Whaling Commission meeting.

Ben Bradshaw: The UK's key aims are to resist any attempts to end the moratorium on commercial whaling and resist threats to weaken or remove the conservation agenda of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). We will also highlight the cruelty involved in whaling, and promote the adoption of a new whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic. Furthermore, we will strongly urge Japan, Iceland and Norway, to cease their whaling activities.

Whaling

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what changes to the present international whaling arrangements a majority of votes at the International Whaling Commission could achieve.

Ben Bradshaw: Although Japan and her allies may, for the first time, gain a simple majority at the next annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), such a majority would not be sufficient to overturn the moratorium on commercial whaling (which requires a &frac34; majority). However, it would enable them to determine the IWC agenda, delete certain key conservation items and change the rules of procedure to their ultimate benefit.

Whaling

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the member states are of the International Whaling Commission; and which are eligible to vote.

Ben Bradshaw: The International Whaling Commission, as of 12 June, has 70 member Contracting Governments: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, People's Republic of China, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Kiribati, Luxembourg, Mali, Republic of Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Russian Federation, San Marino, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Slovak Republic, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States.
	How many of these member states have voting rights will be determined only at the opening of the next annual International Whaling Commission meeting (IWC58) on 16 June, when it is known whether member states have paid their annual subscription and whether their credentials are in order. Even then the position can change during the meeting.

Whaling

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which member states of the International Whaling Commission are  (a) in favour of and  (b) against (i) commercial and (ii) scientific whaling.

Ben Bradshaw: Issues are very rarely put to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in such stark terms. As such, the UK Government cannot determine with absolute confidence how each IWC member state might vote on removing the moratorium on commercial whaling or in protest against scientific whaling.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

AK-47s

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether a consignment of AK-47 type assault rifles has recently been imported from Bosnia into the UK.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not available.

Belvedere Incinerator

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to make a decision on the proposed Belvedere incinerator.

Malcolm Wicks: I expect a decision to be announced very shortly.

Building Industry

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support his Department is giving to the TrustMark scheme in the building industry.

Margaret Hodge: The TrustMark scheme has been developed jointly by Government, industry and consumer stakeholders to raise standards in the domestic repair, maintenance and improvement sector and to provide better information to consumers. The TrustMark scheme grew out of the Government's 2001 manifesto commitment to tackle cowboy builders.
	DTI licensed TrustMark Ltd. (a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee) on 19 August 2005 to operate the framework. This involves assessing and licensing compliant membership organisations ("Approved Operators") to use the logo, and monitoring their continued compliance. Approved Operators can then license compliant members. There are currently 10 Approved Operators (with further applications being considered) and around 6,500 licensed members.
	Our aim is that, over time, improved performance as a result of TrustMark will enhance the construction industry's reputation and improve consumer confidence leading to higher volumes of work and better levels of consumer satisfaction.
	DTI is supporting TrustMark Ltd. with a grant of £2 million over two years, ending March 2007.

Criminal Offences

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the criminal offences created in legislation sponsored by his Department since April 2005, broken down by Act.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is as follows:
	 2005
	No legislation introduced by my Department received Royal Assent.
	
		
			  2006 
			  Act/section  Offence 
			  Consumer Credit Act  
			 51(1) Penalty for false information. 
			  In addition to the new offence created under Section 51 (1), it is an offence under Section 39 (1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 for any person to engage in activities for which a licence is required under the Act when he does not have a licence covering those activities and the 2006 Act makes debt administration and the provision of credit information services new licensable activities. Hence, the ambit of Section 39 (1) is extended. 
			   
			  Equality Act  
			 6 Unlawful disclosure of information. 
			 22 Failure, without reasonable to excuse, to comply with an order under subsection (6). 
			 54 Knowingly recklessly making a false statement of the kind mentioned in subsection (4)(a). 
			 73 Knowingly or recklessly making a false statement, in connection with assistance sought from another, that a proposed act is not unlawful. 
			 Schedule 2, paragraph 13 Without reasonable excuse, (a) fails to comply with a notice under paragraph 9 or an order under paragraph 12 (2), (b) falsifies anything provided or produced in accordance with a notice under paragraph 9 or an order under paragraph 12 (2), or (c) makes a false statement in giving oral evidence in accordance with a notice under paragraph 9.

Departmental Expenditure

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the 10 non-public sector entities that have received the largest total sum of payments from his Department in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: From 2003-04 the 10 non-public sector entities that have received the largest total sum of payments from the Department were as listed, in alphabetical order, as follows. Information at this level of detail relating to prior years is not held on the Department's current financial system, and cannot be retrieved without incurring disproportionate cost.
	 2003-04
	AirbusUK
	American Express Europe Ltd
	Amey Business Services Ltd
	AON Ltd
	ATOS Origin IT Services UK Ltd
	Fujitsu Services Ltd
	NPL Management Ltd
	PERA International Ltd
	Rolls Royce
	SEMA Group
	 2004-05
	American Express Europe Ltd
	ATOS Origin IT Services UK Ltd
	Capita Insurance Services Group Ltd
	CPL Fuels
	Cushman and Wakefield, Healey and Bake Cushman and Wakefield, Healey and Baker
	Fujitsu Services Ltd
	Land Securities Properties Ltd
	Laser (Teddington II) Ltd
	NPL Management Ltd
	Syntegra
	 2005-06
	AEA Technology Environment
	American Express Europe Ltd
	ATOS Origin IT Services UK Ltd
	Capita Insurance Services Group Ltd
	Fujitsu Services Ltd
	NPL Management Ltd
	PERA Innovation Ltd
	Syntegra
	UK Coal plc

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what opportunities exist for people to work beyond retirement age in his Department.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Staff may retire on reaching the age of 60 or work until they are 65 or retire at any time between 60 and 65 subject to giving three months notice. Staff in the senior civil service may work beyond 60 if there is a business requirement for them to do so. For all other staff the current maximum retirement age is 65 and they are not retained after that age other than in cases of exceptional departmental need.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the staff in his Department is  (a) male,  (b) female and  (c) disabled, broken down by grade.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following statistics refer to Staff in Post at 1 April 2006.
	
		
			  Percentage of staff in post in the DTI 
			  Grade( 1)  Male  Female  Declared disability 
			 Senior civil service 72 28 4 
			 Band C 65 35 6 
			 Band B 55 45 9 
			 Band A 37 63 12 
			 Fast stream 52 48 6 
			 DTI total(2) 57 43 8 
			 (1) Grade bands—the grade structure at the DTI is split into three bands. The equivalent civil service grades are as follows: Band C—senior executive officer (SEO) to grade 6 Band B—executive officer (EO) to higher executive officer (HEO) Band A—administrative assistant (AA) to administrative officer (AO)  (2) Including UK Trade and Investment and Office of Manpower Economics   Note:  Departmental records of disabled staff are solely based on voluntary declaration of disability under the Disability Discrimination Act and not connected in any way to a formal register of disability.

Minimum Wage

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Department has considered implementing a higher minimum wage in areas where the overall cost of living is higher.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There are no plans to set different minimum wage rates for different areas or regions. There are often greater variations in pay within regions than between regions, and this would be complex to monitor and enforce. Single national rates are less bureaucratic and more easily understood for all concerned.

Mobile Phones

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of mobile phones in circulation in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: The Department does not hold the information that my hon. Friend requested nor is it available centrally and to obtain such information would entail disproportionate cost. However, research carried out by Ofcom found that the number of mobile phone subscribers in the UK rose from almost 45 million in 2001 to more than 64 million by the end of 2005.

Sayers Bakery

Robert Wareing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what notice of redundancies he has received in respect of Sayers Bakery, Lorenzo Drive, Liverpool; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Advance notification of the proposed redundancies at Sayers Confectionery Limited., Lorenzo Drive, Liverpool, has been received. The information was passed to the Manager of Norris Green Jobcentre plus, who has arranged for staff to visit the site to assist those employees who are facing redundancy. The Jobcentre plus offers access to a range of support schemes, from the new deal and the jobseekers allowance through to more focused schemes designed to help those caught up in restructuring. It provides information on job searching; compiling CVs; further education and training for individuals who need to develop new skills; benefits information; etc. The help required is agreed in discussion with the employer, and in liaison with the local Government Office and the Local Learning and Skills Council.

Sunday Trading

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people have responded to his consultation on Sunday trading; and if he will list the persons invited to his stakeholder conference on the subject.

Ian McCartney: From 13 January to 14 April the DTI asked for views and evidence on all aspects of extending Sunday shop opening hours. We have received around 1,000 responses. We intend to publish a summary of the responses on the DTI website (www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/buying-selling/Sunday %20Shopping) within three months of the close of this consultation.
	On 10 May we held a stakeholder conference, attended by a wide range of stakeholders, where Indepen Consulting Ltd. presented their cost-benefit analysis and participants discussed the assumptions and findings. This was followed by optional forums where we gathered views on the impact on society, the retail sector and employees, and also what can be learnt from international comparisons.
	We wrote to around 150 organisations including retailers, trade associations, trade unions, faith groups and groups with an interest in family life to make them aware of the conference. Details of the conference and how to sign up were posted on the DTI website and we also placed an advertisement in a number of retail trade publications. A report of the conference with a list of the organisations that attended, will be published on the DTI website shortly.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Casinos

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what methodology the Casino Advisory Panel is using  (a) to consider the social impact of new casinos and  (b) to assess local opposition to new casinos in its work allocating casino licences.

Richard Caborn: The role of the Casino Advisory Panel is to advise the Secretary of State on the areas for the 17 new casinos permitted by the Gambling Act 2005, which will provide the best possible test of social impact, not to measure that impact. The panel is also required to ensure that the areas selected are willing to license a new casino and that they include areas in need of regeneration.
	No earlier than three years after the award of the first premises licence, the Government will ask the Gambling Commission to advise on whether the introduction of the new types of casinos has led to an increase in problem gambling or is increasing that risk.
	All local authorities who put proposals to the panel were asked to include details of their research into local opinion.
	In announcing its short list of casino bids the panel has asked any interested members of the public to write to it expressing their views on the short listed areas, whether in support or in opposition.

Casinos

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations  (a) she and  (b) the Casino Advisory Panel has received in the last six months criticising the methodologies used by the Casino Advisory Panel in its work.

Richard Caborn: There have been no representations criticising the methodology used by the Casino Advisory Panel.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list those occasions when the recommendations of a report from the Parliamentary Ombudsman have been  (a) rejected and  (b) partly rejected by her Department since 1997.

David Lammy: There were no occasions where the Department rejected or partially rejected recommendations of a report from the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what incentives are available to encourage members of her staff to use public transport for travelling to and from work.

David Lammy: The vast majority of staff already use public transport. There are no car parking spaces, other than for disabled staff. We provide interest-free loans for the purchase of public transport season tickets and the purchase of bicycles. We are currently upgrading on-site facilities for cyclists.

Tourism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to promote tourism in South East Essex; and if she will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The Regional Development Agencies have had responsibility for tourism support and promotion at a regional level since 2003. My Department contributes £3.6 million a year towards this in grant-in-aid.
	The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) works with the Essex Development and Regeneration Agency (ExDRA), as the body delegated responsibility for promoting tourism in Essex by the county council.
	Initiatives that are directly being supported by EEDA include a tourism strategy for Essex which incorporates the Thames Gateway and Haven Gateway areas of the county. In addition EEDA is working with the Arts Council on cultural development and tourism in the Southend borough.

SCOTLAND

Biodiversity

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which Minister in his Department is responsible for monitoring his Department's compliance with its duty under section 74 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to have regard to the purpose of conserving biological diversity in carrying out its functions; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office have no responsibilities in relation to section 74 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Biodiversity

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department plans to take to monitor the extent to which public bodies which report to him comply, from October, with their duty to conserve biodiversity in exercising their functions, under section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office have no responsibilities in relation to section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.

Departmental Staff

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many illegal immigrants have been discovered to be employed by his Department in each year since 2001; in what capacities they were employed; how many were discovered as part of a criminal investigation; and what the nature of the charges brought against them were.

David Cairns: None.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what incentives his Department offers to encourage staff to share vehicles when travelling to work.

David Cairns: All staff in the Scotland Office are on loan from the Scottish Executive or the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) and, where appropriate, may avail themselves of the schemes offered by those Departments.

Ministerial Visits (Accommodation)

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions Ministers of State in his Department stayed overnight in  (a) five star,  (b) four star and  (c) three star hotels on foreign visits in each of the last three years.

David Cairns: There have been no Ministers of State in the Scotland Office during the last three years. All travel by Ministers is undertaken in accordance with the terms of the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers" which state that when travelling on official business, Ministers are expected to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.

Pensions

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the pension liability of his Department over the next 30 years.

David Cairns: I refer the hon. Member to the technical note which was placed in the Library of the House on 2 March 2006,  Official Report, columns 388-90W, following a response at oral questions by the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Pension liabilities are not estimated for individual departments but for individual pension schemes, as shown in the breakdown of liabilities per pension scheme given in Table 1 of the technical note.

Pensions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what percentage of staff in his Department are making additional voluntary contributions to their pension.

David Cairns: Members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) can pay additional contributions to top up their pension either through the Civil Service Additional Voluntary Contributions Scheme (CSAVCS), a money purchase arrangement, or by buying added years of service in the PCSPS. As an alternative to membership of the PCSPS recruits from 1 October 2002 have been able to join a stakeholder arrangement, the partnership pension account.
	The number and percentage of staff in the department who are making additional voluntary contributions to their pension as at 31 May 2006 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number  Percentage 
			 CSAVCS 1 2 
			 Added years 3 6 
			 Partnership 0 0

Staff Development

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total cost was of  (a) staff away days and  (b) staff team building exercises in his Department in each of the last three years.

David Cairns: The staff in the Scotland Office are on loan from the Scottish Executive or the Department for Constitutional Affairs; both Departments provide access to training and development opportunities. The Scotland Office does not hold information in the form requested; however, the total direct expenditure on training was:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2003-04 23,482 
			 2004-05 11,123 
			 2005-06( )(Estimate) 13,370

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Community Integration

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to encourage community integration.

Meg Munn: The Secretary of State is developing the Commission on Integration and Cohesion's scope to ensure that it contributes to the delivery of the new Department's strategic priorities. We expect to make an announcement about the way ahead before the summer recess.
	The creation of the new Department for Communities and Local Government gives a renewed impetus to our work of encouraging integration with its powerful new remit to promote community cohesion, equality and civil renewal along with its responsibilities for housing, urban regeneration, planning and local government.

Council Tax (Pensioners)

John Penrose: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many copies of council tax bills for 2006-07 he has received from pensioners.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	4,487 copies of council tax bills for 2006-07 have been received by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as at 21 April 2006.

Digital Challenge Competition

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to include the Digital Challenge Competition in the Transformational Government work programme.

Phil Woolas: The Digital Challenge competition is an integral part of the programme outlined in Connecting the UK: the Digital Strategy, of which Transformational Government is also a part.
	The Digital Challenge competition has the potential to make a real difference to people's lives. There are three overarching criteria for the winning bid which are fundamental requirements and which also reflect the principles outlined in Transformational Government:
	 Empowerment
	The winning bid must show how they will use ICT to give new choice, voice and empowerment to citizens; it should be about enabling citizens to participate in their communities, as well as gaining access to services.
	 Service Transformation
	The winning bid must demonstrate innovation in changing how we offer services to people—using ICT to transform the way services are provided, used and experienced.
	 Efficiency
	Local authorities must show that after year one their initiatives are sustainable and cost effective and be prepared to showcase these to other local authorities in years two and three, acting as the UK exemplar.
	The Digital Challenge is supported across government by many departments. Learning and evaluation of the winning bid and runners-up will be used to inform the development of Transformational Government programmes.

Home Information Packs

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the legal status of home condition reports will be; when home information packs are introduced; and for how long the Condition Report will be valid.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 5 June 2006
	The regulations to be laid shortly will specify that Home Condition Reports will be valid documents once they are registered. The regulations will also specify that buyers, sellers and mortgage lenders can legally rely on Home Condition Reports. Home inspectors will be required to have in place suitable indemnity insurance.
	The regulations will require that Home Condition Reports must be no more than three months old when marketing begins, but there will be no requirement for sellers to update them after this. We expect the industry to develop cheap solutions for updating packs where the seller wishes to do so.

Home Information Packs

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many home inspectors are in training; what qualifications are required to enter training; and how many home inspectors she expects to have in place in each local authority area in England by 1 June 2007.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 5 June 2006
	As of 30April 2006, over 4,400 potential home inspectors were in training. The current qualification, the ABBE Diploma in Home Inspection, is open to people with different levels of previous experience, but all candidates must satisfy all parts of the Diploma. This includes providing a portfolio of evidence demonstrating the required skills and experience, and passing the ABBE examination.
	We have estimated that the number of home inspectors required in England and Wales by 1 June 2007, will be between 5,000 and 7,400. The 'Report on the Number of Home Inspectors Required from Introduction of Home Information Packs' published by DCLG on 23 May 2006 shows the number of inspectors expected to be required in each of the English regions and Wales. I have deposited a copy in the Library of the House.

Housing

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average waiting time was for a council property with disabled access in  (a) Leeds and  (b) the West Yorkshire region in the latest period for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 7 June 2006
	Information in the form requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Housing

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what plans she has to  (a) build and  (b) supply council housing for those with serious disabilities in (i) Leeds and (ii) the West Yorkshire region;
	(2)  what plans her Department has to improve the provision of council housing for those with serious disabilities in  (a) Leeds and  (b) the West Yorkshire region.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 7 June 2006
	We have a duty to deliver housing appropriate to the needs of those with serious disabilities. Housing Associations are now the main providers of new social housing. Regional Housing Boards recommend the allocation of resources to deliver regional and sub-regional priorities identified in Regional Housing Strategies. The Housing Corporation has invested £3.3 million for 54 new supported housing units in West Yorkshire between 2004-06. For the period 2006-08, £4.2 million has been allocated to provide 95 new supported housing units in West Yorkshire.
	In addition, Leeds are delivering through the private finance initiative high-quality accommodation and support services for people with learning disabilities. In addition to specialist provision, we continue to enable people with serious disabilities to live in their own homes if they wish to do so, with the appropriate level of care. Council housing adaptations are resourced through Council's Housing Revenue Account, or from other financial resources available to the local authority. Local authority tenants are statutorily entitled to assistance under the Disabled Facilities Grant programme but the present financial arrangements preclude the ODPM ring fenced fund being used for the provision of such adaptations for LA tenants. In the private sector, each year around 30,000 applicants benefit from a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), which since 1997 has increased from £57 million to £103 million in 2005-06. Leeds allocation for 2006-07 is £1.5 million, a 37 per cent. increase. Provision for suitable accommodation will also be increased through our decision to implement the Lifetime Homes Standard through the new Code for Sustainable Homes.
	I also understand that Leeds city council is preparing a Disability Housing Strategy and a Learning Disabilities Strategy (Valuing People), which will set out the approach that the authority needs to take in future years for provision of new housing which meets the needs of the seriously disabled in our communities.

Housing

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people with serious disabilities are on the waiting list for council housing in  (a) Leeds and  (b) the West Yorkshire region.

Yvette Cooper: Information in the form requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Infrastructure (Sussex)

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to ensure timely development of infrastructure to keep pace with housing construction in  (a) West Sussex and  (b) Mid Sussex.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 19 April 2006
	I have been asked to reply.
	Government have increased overall spending in the south east since 2000 by 50 per cent. from £30 billion to £45 billion, including a 244 per cent. increase in housing and community funding, 67 per cent. increase in health, 59 per cent. in transport and 58 per cent. in education.
	The South East Plan has been recently submitted to Government and sets out the regional assembly's views on required house building levels in the south east to 2026. This work has been prepared in partnership with local councils, and so takes account of local assessments of need. In its draft the assembly has taken a view of infrastructure requirements across the region, and this will be debated at the forthcoming examination in public. In due course, the Government will give their approval to the final version, which will certainly take into account the issue of infrastructure delivery, on the basis of the best information available at the time.
	The Government response to the Barker report included:
	a cross-cutting review in the run-up to CSR 07 to co-ordinate infrastructure provision across Departments;
	consultation on the Government's response to Kate Barker's recommendation for a Planning-Gain Supplement (PGS) to help finance infrastructure and ensure that local authorities share in the benefits growth brings.

Local Government Finance

Ken Purchase: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will announce the local authorities'  (a) capital grants for 2006-07 and  (b) indicated grants for 2007-08.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on capital grants issued to local authorities is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Local Government Finance

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much rates support grant was given to Lancashire county council over the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	The following table shows the amount of formula grant provided to Lancashire county council for the period 1998-99 to 2007-08, together with the increase year-on-year on a like-for-like basis after adjusting for changes in funding and function. Formula grant comprises revenue support grant, redistributed business rates and, for authorities with responsibility for policing, principal formula police grant. It is not appropriate to show just revenue support grant as the amount for England is dependant on the amount of redistributed business rates available for England in the year.
	The large change in the level of formula grant in 2006-07 is due to the transfer of schools funding to the Dedicated Schools Grant.
	
		
			   Previous year's adjusted formula grant  Current year's formula grant  Change in formula grant  Percentage change in formula grant 
			 1998-99 559.359 578.211 18.852 3.4 
			 1999-2000 578.211 601.844 23.633 4.1 
			 2000-01 601.843 628.203 26.360 4.4 
			 2001-02 624.510 644.495 19.984 3.2 
			 2002-03 623.966 650.639 26.673 4.3 
			 2003-04 680.497 712.003 31.506 4.6 
			 2004-05 691.061 733.177 42.116 6.1 
			 2005-06 740.515 779.547 39.032 5.3 
			 2006-07 215.765 222.766 7.001 3.2 
			 2007-08 222.317 232.482 10.165 4.6

Local Government Finance

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities make provision for their councillors to hold a budget which they can spend on approved projects and organisations in their own wards.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Local Government Finance

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in respect of which local authorities the Government are proposing to reduce their support for borrowing for capital expenditure; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Government support for borrowing by local authorities is issued as part of the Formula Grant Settlement. Formula Grant is unhypothecated and so capital support is not provided as a separate funding stream. The amount issued is calculated on a formulaic basis and therefore the Government do not intervene by reducing support to individual local authorities.

Local Government Finance

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the Government's policy is on supported borrowing for capital expenditure by Buckinghamshire county council; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Government support for borrowing by local authorities is issued as part of the Formula Grant Settlement. Formula Grant is unhypothecated and so capital support is not provided as a separate funding stream. The amount issued to Buckinghamshire county council, as with all local authorities, is calculated on a formulaic basis and therefore the Government do not intervene by reducing support to individual local authorities.

Mixed Communities Initiative

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on the Mixed Communities Initiative.

Yvette Cooper: The mixed communities approach is one element of our strategy to tackle concentrated deprivation and create sustainable communities for all. It brings together social, economic and physical regeneration, alongside essential improvements in public services, in order to transform failing communities into ones able to attract and retain households on a wide range of incomes. The Government are currently working with a number of locally led and managed projects in order to develop mixed communities in some of our most disadvantaged areas, while also testing out approaches to encourage mixed communities more widely. One such project is based in Coventry.

Parliamentary Questions

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will answer question 65110, tabled on 19 April to the Deputy Prime Minister.

Phil Woolas: I have answered the hon. Member's question today, 13 June 2006.

Staff Discipline

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many civil service staff formerly working in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have been disciplined as a result of breaches of rules contained in the departmental staff handbook in each year since 2001; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Smith: Information on the number of disciplinary cases is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Supported Housing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effect of the introduction of Supporting People on the safety and security of staff in supported housing.

Phil Woolas: Supporting People is a national programme which funds and enables local provision of housing-related support services. The programme went live on 1 April 2003, and brought together a range of pre-existing services and funding streams under a single strategic framework. This included the establishment of national quality standards—the Quality Assessment Framework—which include, among many other matters, ensuring proper procedures for risk assessment and health and safety of staff and against which all of these services have now been assessed.
	While no specific assessment has been made by DCLG of the effect of the introduction of Supporting People on the safety and security of staff in supported housing, the Audit Commission national report on Supporting People (published in October 2005) reported that the Quality Assessment Framework has been effective in raising standards.

DEFENCE

Military Units (Oxfordshire)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which military units from  (a) the UK,  (b) the United States and  (c) other nations have been based in Oxfordshire in each of the last five years; and where each unit has been based.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Bearskins

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent research he has commissioned on whether animals used to provide bearskins are killed humanely; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The pelts used to provide bearskins are provided by traders operating under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Authorities. Those pelts that are provided are certified under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Details on the manner in which the bears are killed are a matter for the Canadian Authorities. The UK MOD requirement for fresh bearskins has been reduced through the operation of a refurbishment programme.

Defence Intelligence Staff

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2006,  Official Report, column 767W, on the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre, from which units of the US armed forces the two American personnel are drawn.

Adam Ingram: The US Army Exchange Officer is a member of the US Army Intelligence Corp (304th MI Battalion, 3rd MI Brigade).
	The US Air Force Exchange Officer is from the Intelligence Branch of the US Air Force.

Defence Intelligence Staff

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether each recommendation in the Butler Review related to the Defence Intelligence Staff was accepted by the Government; and what progress has been made in meeting each recommendation which was accepted.

Adam Ingram: The Government's response to the Butler Review was presented to Parliament in March 2005 (Cm 6492) and its response to the recommendations regarding the Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS) is in Chapter 7.
	Lord Butler recommended that the relevant work of the DIS should be more closely integrated with the rest of the intelligence community. The DIS is now fully integrated into the central intelligence requirements and priorities process, although with the acknowledgement that the Ministry of Defence remains ultimately responsible for providing the DIS with its direction.
	Lord Butler recommended that consideration should be given to the provision of proper channels for the expression of dissent within the DIS. As the Government response indicated, the MOD had already introduced new arrangements for raising issues of conscience and professional concern, including dissent, in order to address (inter alia) the concerns expressed by Lord Butler. The procedure for handling matters of conscience or professional concern was promulgated to staff in a standing instruction in March 2005.
	Lord Butler recommended that in future the Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence should be an intelligence specialist. The MOD recognises the advantage of appointing an intelligence specialist to this role, but as the post requires a wider skills base, increased staff development effort, including a leadership programme for members of the DIS, has been introduced and will enable more personnel with intelligence experience to be considered for the post.

Defence Intelligence Staff

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which bodies in addition to the Defence intelligence staff constitute the UK defence intelligence community.

Adam Ingram: The bodies which make up the UK Defence intelligence community are the Defence intelligence staff, the J2 branch at the permanent joint headquarters (PJHQ) and the single service intelligence organisations. Operational deployments will also have intelligence elements.
	The PJHQ J2 branch act in conjunction with the rest of the Defence intelligence community. Each of the single services has an intelligence branch at their respective front line command headquarters. These are N2 (HQ fleet), G2 (HQ land command) and A2 (HQ strike command). The services also have specialist intelligence units to support them, such as the Air Warfare Centre, the Army Intelligence Corps and the RAF Intelligence Branch.

Departmental Staff

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many illegal immigrants have been discovered to be employed by his Department in each year since 2001; in what capacities they were employed; how many were discovered as part of a criminal investigation; and what the nature was of the charges brought against them.

Tom Watson: Records are not kept centrally on how many illegal immigrants have been discovered to be employed by the Department in each year since 2001 and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Low Flying

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many low flying flights there were in the  (a) Highlands of Scotland and  (b) South West of Scotland and Anglo-Scottish border tactical training area in each year between 1998-99 and 2004-05.

Tom Watson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 June 2006,  Official Report, columns 260-61W.

Psychological Operations

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 April 2006,  Official Report, column 622W, on 15 Psychological Operations Group, whether any of the operations of 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group since 1 January 2003, other than training, have been carried out in the United Kingdom.

Adam Ingram: 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group have never carried out operations in the United Kingdom.

Submarines

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1993W, on nuclear-powered submarines, what the standard operating procedures are for collecting effluent produced by the warming up process from nuclear-powered submarines using  (a) Southampton and  (b) other X berths; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: There are no X berths at Southampton. At the Southampton Z berth all reactor warm-up effluent is kept onboard the submarine until such time as it can be dealt with in accordance with the standard operating procedures at either HM Naval Base Devonport or HM Naval Base Clyde. These procedures were described in the answer I gave the hon. Member on 25 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1992W, and there is nothing further I can usefully add.

Submarines

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates since 1 January 2005 US Navy nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed submarines have visited UK waters or designated berths; and what the location was in each case.

Adam Ingram: US Navy nuclear-powered submarines have visited the following UK designated berths since 1 January 2005:
	 Plymouth
	4-9 May 2005
	19-22 October 2005
	9-15 November 2005
	 Faslane
	6-16 May 2005
	10-17 June 2005
	22-29 June 2005
	5-12 August 2005
	17-19 August 2005
	25-29 August 2005
	8-11 May 2006
	A further visit to Faslane will take place 9-15 June 2006.
	During the period there have been no visits to Portsmouth, the Solent anchorages, or to other UK designated berths.
	All these visits were by nuclear powered submarines (SSN). There were no visits by nuclear ballistic missile armed submarines (SSBN).

UK Military Airfields

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with the review of UK military airfields; and when he expects to report the outcome.

Adam Ingram: My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Defence announced to the House in July 2004 during his statement on the White Paper on Delivering Security in a Changing World that we would be undertaking an extensive review of our future requirements for airfields. There will not be one single report on the outcome of the Defence Airfield Review as the work is being taken forward through a series of business cases assessing the best configuration, both operationally and in value for money terms, for a number of future aircraft types.
	I announced the conclusions of the studies into the basing of Joint Combat aircraft and Nimrod MRA4 aircraft to the House in my statement on 17 November 2005. I will announce the results of the remaining individual studies in due course.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what incentives are available to encourage members of his staff to use public transport for travelling to and from work.

John Prescott: The Government's policy is to encourage the use of sustainable transport methods.

Pensions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his role will be in developing Government policy on pensions.

John Prescott: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister set out details of the new role he has asked me to undertake in his written answer on 17 May 2006,  Official Report, column 985W, and a copy of my letter of appointment has been made available in the Library.
	I will be taking the lead in overseeing the delivery of Government business and improving the effectiveness of Government policy across the whole range of policy areas, including delivering key pledges in our 2005 election manifesto. An important challenge will be to ensure a long-term infrastructure is put in place to entrench a new pensions savings culture, where future generations can take increasing personal responsibility for building their retirement savings. We believe the proposals in the Pensions White Paper do this, and I shall continue to play a full role in discussions as we seek a consensus on the way forward on pensions. The hon. Member will be aware that, until recently, I was responsible for ensuring proper regulation of the local government pension scheme. I intend to build on that experience in seeking agreement on sustainable, affordable and fair pensions for the future.

PRIME MINISTER

Sports Relief

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Loughborough (Mr. Reed) of 7 June 2006,  Official Report, column 247, when he took part in the mile run in aid of Sports Relief; and between which points.

Tony Blair: A number of events have been planned by Sport Relief in the build up to 'Sport Relief Saturday' which takes place on 15 July. In the coming weeks, I am taking part by running a mile in aid of Sport Relief with 2012 ambassadors and young people. I congratulate hon. Members who took part in the Westminster Mile.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Agricultural Crops

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total value of the agricultural crop in Northern Ireland was in each of the past four years; and what the total value of agricultural subsidies was in each year.

David Cairns: Gross output is the standard measure of the value of agricultural output. The published gross output figures normally include the value of agricultural subsidies paid on products. In answer to this question the gross output figures for agriculture in Northern Ireland are given with the subsidy on products removed to give a clearer picture of the value of market returns. These figures and the total value of direct agricultural subsidies in Northern Ireland for the last four years are presented in the following table. The figures for 2005 are provisional and may be subject to change as more up-to-date information becomes available.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Gross agricultural output less subsidies on products  Total direct agricultural subsidies 
			 2002 925.2 248.1 
			 2003 1,026.1 238.5 
			 2004 1,055.8 277.4 
			 2005 (Provisional) 1,048.0 281.7

Animal Cruelty

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of animal cruelty have been reported across the Province over the last three years, broken down by Westminster constituency.

David Cairns: The number of reported cases of animal cruelty is not held centrally by one agency. DARD records those cases reported directly to the Department (mainly in respect of farmed animals), while other suspected cruelty cases will also be reported directly to the Police Service of Northern Ireland or to animal welfare organisations. However, the PSNI do not collate figures relating specifically to animal cruelty.
	Records of the number of cases of animal cruelty reported to DARD, for calendar years 2003, 2004 and 2005 are provided in the table. The information is not recorded by Westminster constituency, but is held by Divisional Veterinary Office area.
	
		
			   Total 
			  DARD Divisional Veterinary Office  2003  2004  2005 
			 Armagh 2 11 8 
			 Ballymena 26 16 14 
			 Coleraine 20 34 24 
			 Dungannon 0 18 17 
			 Enniskillen 13 9 12 
			 Larne 19 18 27 
			 Londonderry 16 7 21 
			 Newry 2 23 17 
			 Newtownards 46 34 25 
			 Omagh 10 3 20 
			 Total 156 175 185

Cattle Identification Offences

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have been charged under cattle identification legislation in each of the last five years; and how much was recovered by way of fines in each year.

David Cairns: The Department referred 65 individuals to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2006. Total fines imposed by the courts during the period—£72,005.
	
		
			  Number of people charged under cattle identification legislation 
			  April to March  Number  Total fines (£) 
			 2001-02 5 5,275 
			 2002-03 3 1,610 
			 2003-04 19 23,660 
			 2004-05 15 8,530 
			 2005-06 23 32,930

Cross-border Arrangements

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the proposed EU legal instrument for cross-border institutional arrangements.

David Hanson: The EU Commission has proposed a legal instrument, European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC), to allow public bodies from different member states to create or join an EGTC with the objective of facilitating and promoting cross border, transnational and interregional co-operation in order to strengthen economic and social cohesion. No new powers are confirmed on public bodies by joining an EGTC and member states can withhold their approval of an EGTC if it considers it to be contrary to the public policy of the member state.
	Other corporate and European structures can also facilitate such co-operation and the EGTC instrument would offer one more option for cross border co-operation to those arrangements that already exist. This may have operational benefits and can be welcomed. The institutions created under the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the North South Cooperation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 already facilitate work across the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The current Ireland/Northern Ireland PEACE and INTERREG IIIA programmes are managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and these structures have performed well.

Door-to-door Bus Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the delivery of the door-to-door bus service  (a) for Comber and  (b) elsewhere in Strangford constituency.

David Cairns: The Department for Regional Development is currently evaluating tenders for the provision of door-to-door transport services in a number of urban areas and would hope that services would start on a phased basis in September 2006. As part of this scheme Comber is linked with Newtownards and Dundonald as a single contract area.
	Through the Rural Transport Fund, the Department for Regional Development provides support to two rural community transport partnerships operating door-to-door services within the Strangford constituency. These are Down Community Transport based in Downpatrick (which also operates in the South Down constituency) and Peninsula Community Transport based in Kircubbin.

Equal Opportunities

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to ensure that women are more equally represented in the civil service in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: Significant progress has been made in ensuring that women are properly represented, particularly at senior grades, in the Northern Ireland civil service, and this has been reflected in changing compositional figures.
	Before advertising a vacancy in the civil service, an assessment is made of the gender balance and where this shows women to be under-represented a statement welcoming applications from women is included in the advertisement. In the period January 2005 to May 2006, welcoming statements were included in 125 advertisements.
	The civil service is anxious to make further progress to increase the diversity of the work force in order to make it more reflective of the community it serves. To this end an outreach programme is being devised and in relation to gender an emphasis will be on encouraging more women into occupations that traditionally have been carried out by men.

Forum for Local Government and the Arts

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times the Forum for Local Government and the Arts in Northern Ireland met in 2005; and where each meeting took place.

Maria Eagle: The Forum for Local Government and the Arts in Northern Ireland met once in 2005, on 6 December at the Sean Holywood Centre, Newry.

Household Condition Survey

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will  (a) increase the number of households included in the Northern Ireland Household Condition Survey,  (b) add energy and income datasets to the Northern Ireland census and  (c) include energy and income datasets in surveying for community planning under new local government arrangements.

David Hanson: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) For the 2006 Northern Ireland House Condition Survey the Housing Executive increased the sample size to 7,250 dwellings (compared to 3,000 in the interim House Condition Survey of 2004), making it broadly comparable to the sample used in the full survey of 2001.
	 (b) No decisions on question topics and content for the 2011 census have yet been taken. Proposals for the 2011 census will be brought forward in a White Paper, probably in 2008, drawing on consultation with users, testing of options and the balancing of competing requirements. The issues of energy and income were raised by users during recent consultation on the content of the next census. A planned census test in 2007 will include a question on income.
	 (c) Strategic Community Planning Partnerships within the new councils will seek to utilise all available relevant information, data and research to inform how the situation within their localities can be improved for the benefit of all citizens.

Knife Amnesty

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many items have been surrendered to date in each district council area in Northern Ireland since the commencement of the knife amnesty.

David Hanson: The police have estimated that at 31 May, a total of 320 items were surrendered since the commencement of the knife amnesty and put on show on Wednesday 7 June a number of the items deposited. A definitive count will be made shortly after the amnesty finishes and information will be available in the week commencing 19 June.

Knife Amnesty

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend the knife amnesty in Northern Ireland in accordance with the amnesty operating in England and Wales.

David Hanson: The current knife amnesty will not be extended beyond 14 June, but I do plan to re-run the amnesty later this year. This would give an opportunity for the year-long public information campaign to begin to make an impact of changing attitudes.

Playgroups

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children were not able to obtain a place in the playgroup of their first choice in each of the five education and library boards in each of the last three years.

Maria Eagle: The requested information is as follows.
	
		
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 BELB 33 51 31 
			 NEELB 209 259 159 
			 SEELB 176 148 179 
			 SELB 205 269 208 
			 WELB — — 140 
		
	
	The WELB is not able to supply the figures in respect of the 2004-05 and 2005-06 school years.

Promotion Boards

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what promotion boards have been held in  (a) each Northern Ireland Department and  (b) the Northern Ireland Office in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: The following are details of general service promotion competitions which have been held in each Northern Ireland Department and the Northern Ireland Office during the period 2001 until 2005.
	
		
			   Promotion board held 
			 2001 Grade7/A, Staff Officer/B2, Executive Officer 1, Executive Officer 11/Band C, Administrative Officer/Grade 1 
			 2003 Deputy Principal/B1, Staff Officer/B2 
			 2004 Grade 7/A, Executive Officer 1 
			 2005 Executive Officer 11/Band C 
		
	
	The following list provides details of all other departmental promotion boards held in each of the last five years ie 2001 until 2005.
	DSD (including SSA and CSA) and DEL did not hold any promotion boards in each of the last five years other than general service promotion competitions as shown above.
	 DFP/OFMDFM
	 2001
	HPTO Civil Engineering Assistant
	Principal Statistician
	Programmer Analyst
	Senior Valuer
	Senior Systems Analyst
	District Valuer
	Valuer 1
	Drilling Rig Supervisor
	DP Statistician
	 2002
	Assistant Solicitors
	Senior Law Clerk
	G6 Economist
	Service Wide Personal Secretary
	Principal Economist
	Senior Principal Statistician
	Valuer 2
	PPTO Civil Engineering
	HPTO Mechanical and Electrical Engineers
	SPTO Civil Engineer
	 2003
	PPTO Mechanical and Electrical Engineers
	DP Statistician
	HPTO Mechanical Engineer
	Principal Statistician
	Principal Economist
	SPTO Mechanical Engineer
	 2004
	HPTO Quantity Surveyor
	District Valuer
	Senior Valuer
	DP Economist
	PPTO Architect
	 2005
	Principal Economist
	Senior Principal Statistician
	SPTO Architect
	HPTO Architect
	SPTO Structural Engineer
	HPTO Mechanical Engineer
	HPTO Quantity Surveyor
	PPTO Quantity Surveyor
	HPTO Supplies Officer
	HPTO Electrical Engineer
	 DARD
	 2001
	Inspector Grade II
	Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer
	Principal Professional Technical Officer.
	Senior Professional Technical Officer
	Higher Professional Technical Officer
	Inspector Grade I
	Scientific Officer (Chemistry)
	Scientific Officer (Microbiology)
	Scientific Officer (Biology)
	Senior Principal Veterinary Officer
	 2002
	Divisional Veterinary Officer
	Higher Professional Technical Officer
	 2003
	Inspector Group 2
	Higher Scientific Officer (Chemistry)
	Inspector Grade II
	Higher Scientific Officer (Biology)
	Higher Scientific Officer (Microbiology)
	Higher Scientific Officer (Molecular Biology)
	 2004
	Scientific Officer (Chemistry)
	Scientific Officer (Biology)
	Scientific Officer (Microbiology)
	Senior Professional Technical Officer
	Fisheries Officers 1
	 2005
	Divisional Forest Officer
	 DRD
	 2001
	PTO Electrical Engineering Assistant (Roads Service)
	SPTO Civil Engineering Assistant (Water Service)
	HPTO Civil Engineering Assistant (Water Service)
	SPTO Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Assistant (Roads Service)
	HPTO Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Assistant (Roads Service)
	PTO Civil Engineering Assistant (Roads Service)
	HPTO Civil Engineering Assistant (Roads Service)
	SPTO Civil Engineering Assistant (Roads Service)
	 2002
	Senior Scientific Officer (Water Service)
	Higher Scientific Officer (Water Service)
	Industrial Foreman (Roads Service)
	Electrical Foreman (Roads Service)
	 2003
	Scientific Officer (Water Service)
	PTO Electrical Engineering Assistant (Roads Service)
	Senior Personal Secretary
	 2004
	TG1 Civil Engineer (Roads Service)
	SPTO Civil Engineer (Water Service)
	Higher Scientific Officer (Water Service)
	 2005
	Scientific Officer (Water Service)
	SPTO Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Assistant (Water Service)
	SPTO Civil Engineer (Roads Service)
	HPTO Civil Engineer (Water Service)
	HPTO Civil Engineer (Roads Service)
	PTO Civil Engineer (Roads Service)
	 DOE
	 2001
	PPTO Planner
	 2002
	SPTO Planner
	PPTO Planner
	HPTO Planner
	Grade 6 Planning Manager
	SPTO Planner
	Scientific Officer (Environment and Heritage Service)
	 2003
	HPTO Planner
	PPTO Planner
	SPTO Planner
	HPTO Planner
	 2004
	SPTO Deputy Chief Examiner (Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency)
	 2005
	SPTO Planner
	HPTO Planner
	PPTO Planner
	 DCAL
	 2001
	Mapping and Charting Technician Grade I
	Senior Mapping and Charting Officer
	Higher Mapping and Charting Officer
	Mapping and Charting Officer
	 2003
	Principal Mapping and Charting Officer
	Higher Mapping and Charting Officer
	Senior Mapping and Charting Officer
	 2004
	Supervisor Grade B (Industrial Competition)
	 2005
	Supervisor Grade A (Industrial Competition)
	 DETI
	 2002
	G7—Principal Inspector (HSENI)
	SO—Area Inspector
	G6—Deputy Chief Executive (HSENI)
	 NIO
	 2005
	HCS Fast Stream Grade 7/A
	 DE
	 2004
	Personal Secretary Competition
	 DHSSPS
	 2002
	Principal Pharmaceutical Officer

Public Land Transfers

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much public land in Northern Ireland, has been transferred to the private sector in each of the past 10 years for which figures are available; and at what cost.

David Hanson: It has not been possible to provide information for the 10-year period as recovery of the required information would be possible only at disproportionate cost.
	The tables detail the information requested for the five-year period from April 2001 to March 2006.
	
		
			  Table A: All organisations except NIHE 
			  Period  Number of lots sold( 1)  Total area (Ha)  Total of sale prices (£) 
			 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 134 79.44 28,140,738 
			 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 162 746.99 26,200,374 
			 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 135 2,554.71 21,989,858 
			 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 155 86.40 96,550,721 
			 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 192 86.47 73,336,411 
			 Total 778 3,554.01 252,617,615 
			 (1) In a very small number of cases the information on the "number of lots" or the "total area" is not available, but the total of sale prices is complete in all cases. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: NIHE( 1) 
			   Total of sale prices (£) 
			 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 2,650,738 
			 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 3,052,978 
			 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 1,714,824 
			 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 1,728,450 
			 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 3,637,524 
			 Total 12,784,514 
			 (1) The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) is unable to provide any lot and area details, expect at disproportionate cost. NIHE data are shown separately in Table B.

Roads

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Department for Regional Development spent on structural maintenance for the road network in counties  (a) Tyrone,  (b) Derry and  (c) Fermanagh in each of the last five years; and how much the Department has budgeted for structural maintenance in (i) the current year and (ii) the next two years in these counties.

David Cairns: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	 Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin, dated 13 June 2006:
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about how much the Department for Regional Development spent on structural maintenance for the road network in counties (a) Tyrone, (b) Deny and (c) Fermanagh in each of the past five years; and how much the Department has budgeted for structural maintenance in (i) the current year and (ii) the next two years in these counties. I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	Firstly I should advise that whilst Roads Service does not maintain details of expenditure on a county basis, such information is available on a district council basis. The table below details Roads Service's expenditure, for the five-year period 2000/01 to 2004/05, on structural maintenance for the nine district councils whose boundaries straddle Counties Tyrone, Londonderry and Fermanagh. Expenditure details for 2005/06 year are not yet available.
	
		
			  Roads Service expenditure on structural maintenance by council area 
			  £ million 
			  District council  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			 Omagh 2.5 3.6 4.0 4.9 4.0 
			 Strabane 2.3 2.7 2.9 3.4 3.9 
			 Cookstown 1.3 1.5 1.8 2.5 2.2 
			 Dungannon 2.7 3.1 3.5 5.4 4.0 
			 Derry 2.1 2.2 2.4 3.2 2.7 
			 Magherafelt 1.2 1.5 1.9 2.7 2.2 
			 Coleraine 1.7 2.1 2.3 3.4 2.4 
			 Limavady 1.0 1.2 1.6 2.6 2.1 
			 Fermanagh 2.9 3.1 4.3 5.5 4.6 
		
	
	In providing this information, I should explain that Roads Service does not simply apportion its total structural maintenance expenditure equally across district council areas. Resources available for each maintenance activity (e.g. resurfacing, patching, gully emptying, grass cutting etc) are apportioned to district council areas using appropriate indicators of need. This ensures, so far as possible, an equitable distribution of funds across the country.
	With regard to structural maintenance expenditure in the current year and the next two years, I can advise that Roads Service's structural maintenance budgets are not allocated at the outset of the financial year on a district council basis. Therefore, it is not possible to give an initial budget allocation for 2006/07 for structural maintenance in each district council area as requested. However, expenditure this year, coupled with the Revised Budget allocations, suggests that approximately £170m will be invested in roads' structural maintenance across Northern Ireland in the three years to 2007/08.

Roads

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Department for Regional Development Roads Service will outline the options for the route of the proposed dual carriageway between Londonderry and Dungiven.

David Cairns: The Chief Executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	 Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin, dated 13 June 2006:
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question regarding when the Department for Regional Development Roads Service will outline the options for the route of the proposed dual carriageway between Londonderry and Dungiven.
	As this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service, I have been asked to reply.
	When the Secretary of State announced that this £250m (estimated cost) scheme to provide a dual carriageway between Londonderry and Dungiven had been added to the Forward Planning Schedule, he indicated that it was expected to be completed in the latter part of the 10 year period to 2015.
	A study is underway to identify the preferred corridor for the route. This involves preliminary studies of environmental, land form and traffic modelling, particularly at the Londonderry end of the route. It is well advanced and will report later this summer. Although it is not normal practice to make announcements at this stage in a scheme development, it is anticipated that a public exhibition and consultation will be undertaken as the next step in the more detailed development of the Londonderry to Dungiven scheme.
	The next stage will be the development and assessment of possible road line options within the corridor identified in the current study. This will take several years and it is not anticipated that any announcement of a preferred line for the Londonderry to Dungiven dual carriageway will issue for some time.
	It is worth reminding ourselves that this 30km scheme is the largest undertaken by Roads Service and will undoubtedly take several years in development.

Roads

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the change was in the average number of vehicles using the Limavady bypass between its opening and the most recent date for which figures are available.

David Cairns: The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr. Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.
	 Letter from Dr. Malcolm McKibbin, dated 13 June 2006:
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question regarding the change in the average number of vehicles using the Limavady Bypass between its opening and the most recent date for which figures are available.
	I have been asked to reply as these issues fall within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Roads Service.
	As you know, Roads Service collects traffic volume data by means of 270 automatic census points strategically located throughout the Northern Ireland road network. Unfortunately none of these census points are located on the Limavady Bypass, and therefore we are unable to provide the information requested.
	However the location of our census points throughout Northern Ireland is currently under review, and it is intended to install a new counter on the Limavady Bypass as part of this review.
	I am sorry I cannot be more helpful on this occasion.

Sinn Fein

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been paid in salaries and expenses to Sinn Fein MLAs since the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Peter Hain: The following table presents the amounts paid by the Northern Ireland Assembly to Sinn Fein MLAs as a result of their entitlements, under various pieces of assembly legislation, during the period 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2006.
	
		
			   Salaries  OCA  T and S  Resettlement and winding up  Other  Total (£) 
			 2002-03 742,068 863,773 161,441 — 4,680 1,771,962 
			 2003-04 519,797 922,712 142,918 219,153 8,778 1,813,358 
			 2004-05 750,961 1,143,544 121,106 41,388 14,566 2,071,565 
			 2005-06(1) 764,000 1,130,000 174,000 — 14,000 2,082,000 
			 1 The information provided represents only the most recent figures available for this period. 
		
	
	I am sorry for the delay in replying which was caused by an administrative error. Steps have been taken to prevent such a recurrence.

St. Mary's Primary School

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children at St. Mary's Primary School in Barrack Street, Belfast, were entered for the 11-plus examination in each of the last five years; and what grades were achieved in each year.

Maria Eagle: Over the past five years only one child from St. Mary's Primary School, Belfast was entered for the transfer procedure test. It would not be appropriate to give the grade achieved, to avoid disclosure of personal data.

St. Mary's Primary School

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children at St. Mary's Primary School in Barrack Street, Belfast  (a) began and  (b) completed Key Stage (i) 1 and (ii) 2 in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The requested information is as follows.
	
		
			  Pupils entering and leaving Key Stages 1 and 2 at St. Mary's, Belfast, 2001-02 to 2005-06 
			  Pupils in  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Year 1 11 8 15 19 7 
			 Year 4 9 11 14 14 14 
			 Year 5 7 9 12 18 14 
			 Year 7 8 12 7 12 16 
			  Notes:  1. Pupils enter Key Stage 1 in Year 1 and leave it in Year 4.  2. Pupils enter Key Stage 2 in Year 5 and leave it in Year 7.

Vehicle Registration

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to enable the owners of vehicles registered in the United Kingdom and who have moved to or are working in Northern Ireland to receive their vehicle test in Northern Ireland.

David Cairns: The Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency will carry out a vehicle inspection on vehicles registered in the United Kingdom once they have reached four years of age, as is the statutory requirement in Northern Ireland.

Vehicle Registration

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to enable vehicles registered in Scotland, England and Wales to obtain a vehicle test in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: The Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency will carry out a vehicle inspection on vehicles registered in the Scotland, England or Wales once they have reached four years of age, as is the statutory requirement in Northern Ireland.

Water Framework Directive

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a copy of the conclusions of the second stage study carried out by the Rivers Agency into the implications of the EC Water Framework Directive.

David Cairns: No. The second stage study into implications of the Water Framework Directive was intended to provide an internal management report to inform the Rivers Agency Management Board of the implementation issues for the Agency. I have no plans to place it in the Library.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Citizenship Curriculum

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that young people take part in his Department's review of the citizenship curriculum.

Jim Knight: Gathering the views of young people is a crucial part of the review process. The review team is working with the National Children's Bureau and the National Youth Agency to consult directly with groups of young people.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what incentives are available to encourage members of his staff to use public transport for travelling to and from work.

Parmjit Dhanda: It is Government policy to encourage the use of sustainable travel. In the Department, we encourage staff, wherever possible, to use public transport or cycle to work especially those commuting to our London offices due to very limited car parking and traffic congestion.
	The incentives made available to encourage staff to use public transport to and from work are interest free loans for season tickets and cycle purchases loans for those who want them.

Director General for Higher Education

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the appointment of the next Director General for Higher Education in his Department will be by open competition.

Parmjit Dhanda: holding answer 12 June 2006
	Yes.

Purity Rings

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he has issued to local education authorities on pupils wearing jewellery with religious significance, with particular reference to purity rings.

Jim Knight: School governing bodies determine school uniform policy and dress codes under powers conferred by the 1998 School Standards and Framework Act. The Department's guidance does not specifically mention jewellery with religious significance, but states that in deciding the format of their uniform, governors should have regard to their responsibilities under equalities legislation. It also states that in setting a policy, the school should be sensitive to pupil's cultural and religious needs and differences.

School Governors

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school governors will be appointed by  (a) town and parish councils,  (b) district authorities and  (c) county councils to foundation schools at (i) primary and (ii) secondary level under arrangements proposed in the Education and Inspections Bill.

Jim Knight: The stakeholder model of school government introduced through the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2003 requires that the governing body of a foundation school must comprise at least one but no more than one fifth local authority governors. The local authority will be the county council in two tier authorities and the unitary authority in other areas.
	There is no requirement for other tiers of local government to be represented on the governing body of any other category of maintained school. The Education and Inspection Bill would not change these arrangements.

School Meals

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the recommendations submitted to her Department by the School Meals Review Panel and the School Food Trust; and what assessment she has made of the impact the recommendations would have on the soft drinks industry.

Jim Knight: On 19 May 2006 the Secretary of State announced a suite of new nutritional standards for school lunches and food and drink served at other times of the day.
	These standards combine the recommendations of the School Meals Review Panel and the School Food Trust. New regulations for school lunches will mesh the existing standards in the Education (Nutritional Standards for School Lunches) (England) Regulations 2000 with the new food-based standards to produce interim food-based standards from September 2006. A subsequent set of regulations will set out the final food and nutrient-based standards which will apply to school lunches, and the standards for food served at other times of the day. A guide to introducing the food-based standards for lunch will be issued by the School Food Trust in late June.
	We have published a full Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) which considers the financial impact that the new nutritional standards will have. In compiling the RIA, account was taken of the report written for the School Meals Review Panel (SMRP) by PricewaterhouseCoopers on the costs of implementing the Caroline Walker Trust's recommendations, which are closely mirrored by the recommendations of the SMRP.

School Sprinkler Systems

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether he plans to make it mandatory to install fire-safety sprinklers in schools.

Jim Knight: We do not have plans to require the installation of sprinklers in all schools. Our current guidance to local authorities, promoters, governing bodies and all those involved in the provision and design of schools, is to use risk assessments as the basis for deciding whether or not sprinklers should be installed in new school buildings.

Secondary Schools (Wellingborough)

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) secondary school and  (b) primary school aged children taught at home in (i) Northamptonshire and (ii) Wellingborough in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Secondary Schools (Wellingborough)

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils there were in each year group in the  (a) Wrenn,  (b) Sir Christopher Hatton and  (c) Weavers secondary schools in Wellingborough in the most recent period for which figures are available; and what the maximum admission number is for each group in each school.

Jim Knight: The number of pupils in each year group for each school is given in the table.
	Information about the published admission numbers of schools is not collected centrally. Northamptonshire county council has informed us that the admission numbers for each school is as follows:
	
		
			  School  Number of admissions 
			 Wrenn School 250 
			 Sir Christopher Hatton School 208 
			 Weavers School (1)246 
			 (1) Northamptonshire county council has provided an additional year 9 class at Weavers School and so there are 376 places available in that year. 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of pupils by national curriculum year group( 1) , as at January 2006( 2) 
			  Headcount 
			  Year group  Weavers School  Sir Christopher Hatton School  Wrenn School 
			 7 163 208 252 
			 8 185 202 251 
			 9 252 207 249 
			 10 190 202 252 
			 11 186 200 249 
			 12 45 88 98 
			 13 33 70 84 
			 Total 1,054 1,177 1,435 
			 (1) Excludes dually registered pupils. (2) Provisional.  Source:  Schools' Census

Selective Mutism

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  which organisations received funding from his Department to research selective mutism in each of the last five financial years; and how much each organisation received in each year;
	(2)  which organisations received funding from his Department to support  (a) teachers and  (b) parents in their work with children exhibiting selective mutism in each of the last five financial years; and how much each organisation received in each year;
	(3)  what guidance is provided by his Department on selective mutism to  (a) local education authorities,  (b) schools and  (c) teacher training institutions;
	(4)  what assessment his Department has made of the incidence of selective mutism among children under the age of 16 years; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the provision of information to teachers and parents about assisting children who exhibit selective mutism; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department has not commissioned any recent research or produced guidance specifically on selective mutism, although it is one of a number of communication difficulties addressed in our Early Support publication "Speech and language difficulties", published in 2005.
	Where a child is exhibiting selective mutism in a school or early years setting we would normally expect early referral to a speech and language therapist and/or psychologist. Selective mutism often appears associated with anxiety, and thus may be linked to a number of factors. Patience and understanding, coupled with measured interventions designed to build the child's confidence, appear to have beneficial effects, as does reducing pressure on the child.
	The Department has not made any assessment of the incidence of selective mutism, or any assessment of the adequacy of information available. In 2002-03 and 2003-04 we gave grants of £30,000 and £2,000 respectively to help the Selective Mutism Information and Research Association (SMIRA) produce an instructional video entitled "Silent Children—Approaches To Selective Mutism" and an associated booklet.

Supply Teachers

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will take steps to prevent teacher employment agencies from employing experienced supply teachers only if they accept the lower pay scale of newly qualified teachers.

Jim Knight: Teachers who are not employed by a school or local authority are free to choose whether or not to work for an employment agency. Employment agencies are not bound by the national School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document, and are free to set their own rates.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Career Advice

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps she is taking to improve career advice for girls.

Meg Munn: holding answer 12 June 2006
	The "Youth Matters: Next Steps" document, published on 8 March 2006, sets out proposals for improved information, advice and guidance for young people. It recognises the importance of access to individually tailored information, advice and guidance that challenges rather than perpetuates traditional stereotypes.
	Central to improved information, advice and guidance will be the development of quality standards. The challenging of traditional stereotypes will be included in these standards. The Equal Opportunities Commission is represented on the Steering Group that is supporting the development of the standards.

Domestic Violence (Refuge)

Diane Abbott: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues about improving the services offered to women seeking refuge from domestic violence.

Meg Munn: As Deputy Minister for Women and Equality, I sit on the Inter-Ministerial Group for Domestic Violence (chaired by my hon. Friend Baroness Scotland of Asthal) which undertakes the performance management of the cross-Government National Domestic Violence Delivery Plan by reviewing progress at quarterly meetings. This is the mechanism for improving the services offered to women seeking refuge from domestic violence nationally.
	A substantially revised domestic violence Best Value Performance Indicator will help assess overall provision and effectiveness of local authority services designed to help victims of domestic violence.

Management Positions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps she is taking to encourage firms to consider women for senior management positions.

Meg Munn: holding answer 12 June 2006
	Encouraging firms to consider more women for senior management positions is something that the Government take very seriously. The Government support initiatives such as the FTSE 100 cross company mentoring scheme 'Women Directors on Boards', which is backed by 29 Chairmen and CEOs.
	Vertical segregation and the 'glass ceiling' is something that the Women and Work Commission identified as a cause of the gender pay gap. The Government will issue an Action Plan in response to the Commission's recommendations later in the year. Companies from a range of sectors have committed to develop and deliver programmes that support the Work and Work Commission's recommendations, including initiatives, which support women into senior management positions.

Sex Industry

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps the Government are taking to assist women who have been trafficked into the UK to work forcibly in the sex industry; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	Since March 2003 the Home Office has funded Poppy, a scheme run by Eaves Housing for Women to provide safe accommodation and tailored one-to-one support for adult female victims who have been trafficked into the UK for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
	In April of this year the Home Office entered into a two-year, £2.4 million funding agreement with Eaves Housing for Women. This funding will not only provide for the continuation of the existing crisis provision service for up to 25 women it will also meet the costs of: 10 additional "step-down" places which will help the women to live semi-independently; the introduction of the first ever specialist national outreach service in the UK for victims trafficked into sexual exploitation; and the development of a resource pack for victims, service providers and law enforcement agency staff.

Vocational Training

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps she is taking to increase the take-up of vocational training by girls.

Meg Munn: holding answer 12 June 2006
	There are a number of steps we are taking to increase the take up of vocational training by both boys and girls. In particular we are challenging stereotypical choices through the Young Apprenticeship programme for 14 to 16-year-olds, the 14-19 Pathfinders and in the development of new specialised Diplomas.
	Working in partnership with the EOC, we have been evaluating how equal opportunities are being addressed in practice by Young Apprenticeship partnerships, particularly to encourage all young people to consider non-traditional options, through, for example, vocational tasters.
	Computer Clubs for Girls is also an innovative, award-winning initiative created by e-skills UK and funded by DfES. Clubs are being run in partnership by schools and employers in order to raise the standard of girls' ICT skills while transforming girls' attitudes to careers in IT.
	Underpinning all this work is access to information, advice and guidance so that young people, and girls in particular, can make informed choices. The "Youth Matters: Next Steps" document, published on 8 March 2006, sets out proposals for improved information, advice and guidance for young people. Central to improved information, advice and guidance will be the development of quality standards. The challenging of traditional stereotypes will be included in these standards. The Equal Opportunities Commission is represented on the Steering Group that is supporting the development of the standards.

TREASURY

Criminal Offences

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the criminal offences created in legislation sponsored by his Department since April 2005, broken down by Act.

John Healey: There were no provisions creating criminal offences in primary legislation sponsored by Her Majesty's Treasury since the end of April 2005.

Developing Countries (Health)

Mark Durkan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of International Monetary Fund and World Bank targets for achieving longer-term economic growth of public health spending by developing countries; and whether he proposes to make representations on this issue at the International Monetary and Finance Committee meeting in Singapore.

Stephen Timms: In 2005 the international community committed to double aid flows to Africa by 2010.
	To achieve the Millennium Development Goals in health the international community must accelerate support to develop universal and equitable health systems.
	Ensuring that the increased aid can be used effectively will require partnership between developing countries, donors and the international financial institutions.
	The Bank and the Fund have a critical role to play in this international effort, in supporting countries' own poverty reduction and development strategies. The World Bank is now the largest provider of development finance in the health sector. We will continue to urge the Bank to do more to help countries scale up their investment in their health programmes.
	The IMF plays a crucial role in supporting financially and through policy advice the macroeconomic stability necessary for lasting poverty reduction. We welcome the commitment—expressed in the Managing Directors' medium-term strategy—for the IMF to assist developing countries in the management of increased aid inflows, and will continue to urge the Fund to support countries in increasing their investment in priority sectors including public health, within their frameworks for macroeconomic stability and sustainable growth.

Family Tax Credits (Northern Ireland)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the uptake of family tax credits has been since its introduction in Northern Ireland, broken down by Westminster constituency; how much in total has been paid and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Take up rates for family credit, working families tax credit and child and working tax credit is not available by constituency. Estimates of take up rates for child and working tax credits in 2003-04, including breakdown by country and region, are detailed in the HMRC publication "Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit 2003-04".This publication also details take up rates for family credit and working families tax credit, which preceded the new tax credits. Estimates for the number of in-work families, and amounts paid, receiving working family tax credit and family credit between May 1998 and February 2003 appear in the quarterly published WFTC statistics. Estimates for 2003-04 and 2004-05 of the numbers of in-work families with child and working tax credit awards, including breakdown by constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes for 2003-04 and 2004-05 are published in "Child and Working Tax Credit. Finalised Awards 2003-04. Geographical Analysis" and "Child and Working Tax Credit. Finalised Awards 2004-05. Geographical Analysis".
	These publications are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-take-up.htm

Income Statistics

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the average income per person in Houghton and Washington East.

Dawn Primarolo: The latest estimates for the mean and median of total income (for taxpayers) by constituency can be found in table 3.15 "Income and tax by Parliamentary Constituency" on HM Revenue and Customs website. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/menu-by-year.htm#315. The information is based on the latest Survey of Personal Incomes (2003-04).
	Because sample sizes at constituency level are small and can demonstrate a large variability from year to year, inference from the information in the table should take into account the confidence intervals in table 3.15a "Income and tax by Parliamentary Constituency, Confidence Intervals".
	Similar information including non-taxpayers is not available.

Taxation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the net yield from inheritance tax in each year since 1996-97; and what the forecast for 2006-07 is;
	(2)  if he will estimate the revenue collected from  (a) stamp duty on property,  (b) inheritance tax and  (c) council tax in each year since 1996-97; and what his estimate is for (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08.

Dawn Primarolo: Receipts of stamp duty on land and property are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Receipts of stamp duty on land and property 
			   £ billion 
			 1996-97 1.1 
			 1997-98 1.5 
			 1998-99 2.1 
			 1999-2000 3.2 
			 2000-01 3.7 
			 2001-02 4.1 
			 2002-03 5.0 
			 2003-04 5.0 
			 2004-05 6.3 
		
	
	The figures quoted in the table for the period 1999-2000 to 2004-05 are published in table 15.1 on the HMRC website: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/stamp_ duty/15_1_sep05.pdf
	Figures for future years will depend on estimates of property sales, both residential and commercial.
	Receipts of inheritance tax are published in table T1.2 on the HMRC website: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_receipts/1_2_v2_dec05.pdf
	The latest estimates/forecasts for receipts of inheritance tax are set out in table C8 in chapter C of the 2006 Financial Statement and Budget Report on the website: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/20F/42/bud06_chc_247.pdf
	Council tax receipts net of council tax benefit are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Net receipts of council tax (2004-05 prices) 
			   £ million 
			 1996-97 10,683 
			 1997-98 11,237 
			 1998-99 12,137 
			 1999-2000 12,911 
			 2000-01 13,760 
			 2001-02 14,456 
			 2002-03 15,337 
			 2003-04 16,938 
			 2004-05 17,592 
			 2005-06 17,978 
			 2006-07 18,231 
		
	
	Forecasts for these taxes are only published for years up to 2006-07, the last year covered in the Budget report.

Insurance Policies

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what representations he has received regarding cashback claims from insurance policies operated by a company called PowerPlan;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that consumers applying for cashback from insurance policies are made aware of the laid down conditions included in the small print.

Edward Balls: The Government have received representations regarding the issue of cashback claims from insurance policies operated by Powerplan.
	The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is responsible for regulating the sale of general insurance policies. The FSA requires all disclosure to be clear, fair and not misleading, and for retail customers to be given a policy summary which sets out key aspects of a policy before the sale is concluded. The FSA does not regulate travel insurance sold as part of a package. Nor does it regulate sales of non-motor extended warranties under €500.
	Extended warranties can be service agreements or insurance backed contracts. The sale of extended warranties on domestic electrical goods are regulated through The Supply of Extended Warranties on Domestic Electrical Goods Order 2005, which includes specifying information that should accompany the sale of the product.
	For insurance-backed products, consumers will have a right of recourse to the Financial Ombudsman Service in respect of the insurance contract.

Ivory Imports/Exports

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many elephant products have been seized by HM Revenue and Customs in each year since 2000, broken down by  (a) type of item and  (b) country of origin;
	(2)  how many offences have been committed under the Customs and Excise Management Authority Regulations relating to ivory seizures since 1997; and what  (a) the nature of the offence and  (b) the penalty was in each case.

Dawn Primarolo: Details of seizures made by HM Revenue and Customs of endangered species (as listed under Council Regulation (EC) No. 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora) between 1999 and 2004 are available on the UK CITES website at www.ukcites.gov.uk/news/tradestatistics.htm The 2005 figures are due to be published here shortly.
	The records list countries of origin or export. Elephant products are likely to be listed under the headings "Ivory" or "Parts and Derivatives". However ivory seizures will only be recorded as elephant ivory where they have been declared as such either by a passenger or in accompanying documents.
	The published statistics only list ivory as a separate heading with effect from 2002. Prior to this ivory is included under the Parts and Derivatives heading. Statistics on ivory seizures before 1999 are set out in HM Customs and Excise annual reports. The 1997 and 1998 annual reports list 11,907 and 51,675 seized CITES items as Parts and Derivatives.
	Offences committed since 1997 breach either the import or export prohibitions contained in Council Regulation 338/97. These offences render ivory liable to forfeiture and it is, therefore, seized under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. In addition to seizure, the penalty for these breaches is the non-restoration of the ivory unless a valid retrospective CITES permit has been obtained from DEFRA.
	Most seizures made are from private individuals returning to this country or on occasion as gifts sent to them via the post. Some of these individuals will not even be aware that ivory imports are banned in the EU, especially if they have seen ivory goods openly on sale in some international airports.

Ivory Imports/Exports

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has revised data collection methods for ivory imports and exports since 2002 to include weight, number of items and description of items.

Dawn Primarolo: Data on imports and exports are collected using a standard European classification. Details of the classification can be seen on HM Revenue and Customs' trade statistics site uktradeinfo.com. There have been no changes to the description or requirement to collect value and weight for ivory products since 2002.

Ivory Imports/Exports

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the approximate financial value is of ivory imported into the UK since 2003, based on declarations made to HM Revenue and Customs.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table includes the approximate financial value is of ivory imported in the UK since 2003 based on declarations made to HM Revenue & Customs.
	
		
			  Imports into the UK of Ivory, 2003-06 
			   Commodity  Statistical value (£000)( 1, 2) 
			 2003 Ivory: ivory powder and waste 6.49 
			  Worked ivory and articles of ivory 17.87 
			
			 2004 Ivory: ivory powder and waste 2.45 
			  Worked ivory and articles of ivory 0 
			
			 2005(3) Ivory: ivory powder and waste 0 
			  Worked ivory and articles of ivory 0.62 
			
			 2006(3, 4) Ivory: ivory powder and waste  
			  Worked ivory and articles of ivory 0 
			
			 Totals Ivory: ivory powder and waste 8.94 
			  Worked ivory and articles of ivory 18.49 
			 (1) Value of goods plus costs incurred up to the UK border  (2) Data include estimates of Below Threshold Trade Allocations  (3) Provisional  (4) 2006 data are for January to March   Source:  HM Revenue & Customs—Overseas Trade Statistics

Junior Football Clubs

John Leech: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made by his Department of how much additional tax revenue will be collected as a result of the introduction of pay-as-you-earn taxation for junior football clubs in Scotland.

Dawn Primarolo: No additional tax is due. HMRC is simply updating tax collection procedures for some Scottish junior football clubs.

Neonatal Mortality

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the neonatal mortality rate for all births was in  (a) Peterborough constituency,  (b) the Peterborough city council area and  (c) England in each of the last five years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 13 June 2006:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the neonatal mortality rate for all births was in (a) Peterborough constituency, (b) the Peterborough City Council area and (c) England in each of the last five years. I am replying in her absence. (76596)
	Information on neonatal mortality is routinely published for local authorities and health authorities. Data cannot be provided for Peterborough constituency because of the risk of disclosing individual's information due to small differences with local authority boundaries.
	Neonatal mortality rates for the Peterborough City Council area and England from 2000 to 2004 (the most recent year for which data are available) are given in the table below.
	
		
			  Neonatal mortality rate( 1) , Peterborough city council area and England 2000 to 2004 
			   Peterborough rate  England rate 
			 2000 2.4 3.9 
			 2001 2.9 3.6 
			 2002 3.7 3.6 
			 2003 6.3 3.7 
			 2004 1.2 3.4 
			 (1.) Per 1,000 live births

Civil Service (Relocation)

Ben Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has held with ministerial colleagues on the implications for the civil service of the Government relocation programme in the north-west.

Des Browne: The Chancellor announced in Budget 2006 that over 7,800 posts have now been relocated out of London and the south-east. Over 1,600 posts have already been relocated to the north-west. The Government are on course to meet the target to relocate 20,000 civil service posts out of London and the south-east by 2010. Individual Departments are responsible for deciding on sites for relocation, but they must do so taking into account both their business needs and local economic factors, as set out in central guidance, "Choosing Locations for Government Business".

Nottingham East Midlands Airport

Edward Garnier: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of  (a) imports flown into and  (b) exports flown out of Nottingham East Midlands airport in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on trade with other EU member states by port/airport is not collected. The table gives the data for the last five years of the declared value of the non-EU imports and exports through East Midlands airport.
	
		
			  Non-EU Imports and exports via East Midlands airport 
			  £ million 
			   Value of imports  Value of exports 
			 2001 2,541 1,396 
			 2002 2,167 1,460 
			 2003 2,279 1,865 
			 2004 2,261 1,753 
			 2005 (provisional) 2,412 1,634 
			  Source:  HM Revenue and Customs—Overseas Trade Statistics.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those occasions when the recommendations of a report from the Parliamentary Ombudsman have been  (a) rejected and  (b) partly rejected by his Department since 1997.

John Healey: HM Treasury is not aware of any occasion since 1997 in which it has rejected or partially rejected recommendations of the Parliamentary Ombudsman in relation to HM Treasury's activities. However, HM Treasury does not hold definitive statistics of this nature. HM Treasury cannot provide this information without first identifying and then reviewing all HM Treasury files relating to every Parliamentary Ombudsman investigation since 1997. This exercise would incur disproportionate cost.

Small Breweries Relief

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will amend the criteria governing the eligibility of breweries for Small Breweries' Relief to encompass independent breweries producing between 60,000 and 100,000 hectolitres of beer per annum.

John Healey: Since SBR was introduced in June 2002 more than 100 new breweries have opened, creating over 1,000 new jobs and injecting energy and innovation into a traditional industry.
	The Government are committed to ensuring that SBR is targeted to benefit those who need it most. Although all reliefs are kept under review, the Government believe that SBR is currently striking the right balance, and meeting its objectives.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit payments were not made to claimants because the award fell below the payment threshold in  (a) 2003-04,  (b) 2004-05 and  (c) 2005-06; and what the total value of these non-payments were for each year.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available except at disproportionate cost.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the total cost of the £25,000 tax credits overpayments income disregard; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 13 December 2005,  Official Report, column 1836W.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in the Inland Revenue and HM Revenue and Customs have worked on tax credits in each quarter since April 2002; and how many worked  (a) in contact centres,  (b) on policy,  (c) in the debt management service,  (d) in inquiry centres,  (e) in the tax credits offices,  (f) in the programme office,  (g) on compliance,  (h) on the IT live service and  (i) on IT development; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Unclaimed Assets

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made in establishing  (a) the extent of unclaimed assets in the UK and  (b) their availability for charitable or other purposes.

Edward Balls: The Government reported in the Budget that the banking industry has set in train work to develop a scheme to enable unclaimed assets to be reinvested in society. The Government are clear that that such a scheme needs to be consistent with retaining the rights of owners to reclaim assets at any time and, with this in mind, are assessing the legal and accounting issues involved. The industry's steering group is considering issues of definition, reuniting and operation and distribution. This work is ongoing.

TRANSPORT

Night Flights

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints the Department and the Civil Aviation Authority received about night flights in 2005.

Gillian Merron: The Department receives a number of complaints and other representations about night flights policy. We received around 6,000 responses to our recent consultation document on night flying restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports.
	Complaints about specific night flights are properly a matter for individual airports, which are best equipped to investigate complaints.

Departmental Expenditure

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what change in spending on transport his Department plans to make between 2005-06 and 2007-08.

Douglas Alexander: Public spending by the Department of Transport is planned to increase from around £11.4 billion in 2005-06 to around £12 billion in 2007-08.

Concessionary Fare Scheme

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the total cost of implementing the Government's concessionary fare scheme.

Gillian Merron: The Government are providing an extra £350 million for 2006-07 and a further £367.5 million for 2007-08 to fund free off-peak local bus travel for people aged 60 and over and disabled people. The Chancellor announced in the Budget that the free local bus travel entitlement would be extended further to national bus travel from April 2008, for which Treasury earmarked up to an additional £250 million per year.

Road Accidents

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he plans to take to reduce the number of road traffic fatalities among young drivers.

Stephen Ladyman: We are very concerned about young driver fatalities, especially, that a minority appears to have a seriously unsafe attitude to the risks. We have strengthened the driving test; have commissioned research on improving pre-driver education and how to develop safe attitudes to driving among young people; and are developing a package of measures to tackle unlicensed driving.

Road Accidents

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made in reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured in road accidents.

Stephen Ladyman: Our provisional statistics for 2005 indicate that there were 32,150 people killed or seriously injured in accidents reported to the police in Great Britain, 33 per cent. below the 1994-98 baseline average.

Traffic Management

Christine Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve traffic management to ease road congestion.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government have a number of initiatives to tackle road congestion, through a combination of investment, improved management, new technology and better information. Under the Traffic Management Act 2004 local authorities have greater duties to manage traffic on their road network, including co-ordinating street works. Newly created traffic officers are helping to keep traffic moving, and ease congestion and ensure safety primarily on English motorways.

Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to introduce a renewable transport fuels obligation.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government announced in November 2005 that a renewable transport fuels obligation (RTFO) will be introduced from 1 April 2008. Further details of the obligation were announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the March 2006 Budget, including the level of obligation for the years leading up to 2010.
	We are currently discussing aspects of the detailed design of the RTFO scheme with stakeholders and we envisage consulting on the draft secondary legislation around the end of the year. We are also developing robust carbon and environmental assurance schemes to deliver the best biofuels from day one of the obligation. This work is being taken forward by the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP).

Roads (Wales)

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with his colleagues in the National Assembly for Wales about road systems in and out of Wales.

Stephen Ladyman: Officials from the Department for Transport have met with officials from the Welsh Assembly Government on several occasions to discuss cross-border schemes. I have also recently offered to meet with Andrew Davies, Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks in the Welsh Assembly Government to discuss these issues.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from road transport.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government are introducing a Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation in April 2008, the effect of which will be that by 2010 5 per cent. of all transport fuels sold in the UK will come from renewable sources—a 20-fold increase on biofuels market share on 2005. The RTFO will deliver real environmental benefits and is projected to save around 1 million tonnes of carbon by 2010 (the equivalent of removing a million cars from the road).
	To encourage company car drivers to drive more environmentally friendly cars with lower carbon dioxide emissions, the Chancellor announced in Budget 2006 that the lower threshold for company car tax rates will be reduced by 5g/km from 140g/km to 135g/km from 2008-09. It also provides for introduction of a new 10 per cent. band for cars with CO2 emissions of 120g/km or below, also from 2008-09.
	Vehicle excise duty for cars is based on carbon dioxide emissions which give a clear signal to motorists to choose less polluting vehicles. New energy efficiency vehicle labels—matching the graduated VED structure—were introduced into car showrooms last year, raising consumer awareness of the potential fuel savings available from using more efficient vehicles. At Budget, the Chancellor announced further reforms to VED, including a new higher band for the most polluting new cars, and a zero rate of VED for cars with less than 100g per kilometre of CO2 emissions to assist the development of the low carbon car market.
	On 7 June I announced that we will refocus the two-year budget of £40 million earmarked for environmental grants and advice. The full budget will remain allocated for green transport initiatives, the detail of which will be developed as part of the Powering Future Vehicles Strategy review this year.
	The European Voluntary Agreement on new car fuel efficiency provides an incentive for vehicle manufacturers. Government are working with relevant stakeholders to consider a replacement for the voluntary agreement, which expires in 2008-09.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made in lowering the average emissions per vehicle.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the former Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend for Edinburgh, South-West (Mr. Darling) to the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander) on 2 May 2006,  Official Report, column 829.

DVLA

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the  (a) total staff costs and  (b) total staffing complement of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's diversity unit are; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The total costs of the nine staff in the diversity unit in the 2005-06 financial year were £273,329.

DVLA

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will increase staffing levels at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to ensure that more roadside checks can be made on untaxed vehicles.

Stephen Ladyman: Increasing DVLA staffing levels to enable more roadside checks on untaxed vehicles to be made is not the most effective way of tackling this problem.
	DVLA supplies the police with details of untaxed vehicles for use with their ANPR Units. They are thus able to identify these on the public road without the need for DVLA officials to be present. Additional resource has been made available to considerably increase DVLA's level of wheel clamping activity against untaxed vehicles. The DVLA works closely with the police and clamping units are available to support them at roadside checks. Offending vehicles, the keepers of which are frequently involved in other criminal activity, are impounded in this partnership approach to the problem.

Motorways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average cost was of adding an extra lane to an existing motorway in each of the last 10 years.

Stephen Ladyman: The following table lists the average cost in real terms of adding an extra lane to existing motorways, provided by publicly funded major schemes for the last 10 years.
	
		
			   Lane km added to HA motorway network  Cost per km in real terms (£ million) 
			 1996-97 51 7.0 
			 1997-98 39 4.0 
			 1998-99 0 0 
			 1999-2000 0 0 
			 2000-01 0 0 
			 2001-02 0 0 
			 2002-03 7 32.3 
			 2003-04 21 13.3 
			 2004-05 4 2.0 
			 2005-06 32 6.2

Potters Bar Rail Crash

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial assistance has been made available by the Government to Network Rail in connection with litigation arising out of the Potters Bar rail crash; and whether he plans to make financial assistance available to the survivors and victims' families in connection with their litigation arising out of the crash.

Derek Twigg: No funds have been made available to Network Rail. The Legal Services Commission granted legal aid to one of the families in connection with their application for judicial review of the Secretary of State's decision not to hold a public inquiry.

Seat Belts

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the seat belt wearing rate was among  (a) males and  (b) females on each motorway in each of the last five years, broken down by front and rear seats.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not available. I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 16 January 2006,  Official Report, column 942W, which sets out the reports that contain information on the seat belt wearing rates that are observed.

Thameslink 2000

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 22 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1288W, on Thameslink 2000, when he plans to make these reports available to the public.

Stephen Ladyman: The inspector's report on the re-opened Thameslink 2000 inquiry will be published when the decision is announced, in line with standard practice for planning inquiries. The report by London TravelWatch assessing the impact on users of the related rail closure proposals is available on their website.

West Coast Main Line

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether all the additional services in the West Coast Mainline Progress Report planned to call at Milton Keynes will allow passengers to alight and embark.

Derek Twigg: A revised timetable is due to be introduced early in 2009 when the West Coast Main Line Project will be substantially complete. It is too soon to say whether there will be any restrictions on boarding or alighting at Milton Keynes but extra platform capacity is being provided there to enable more trains to call.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Africa (Chinese Policy)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of Chinese policies in Africa including aid strategies.

Ian McCartney: We are keen to increase our dialogue with China on implementation of their Africa policy launched this year. Our network of diplomatic posts in China and Africa provide regular reporting and analysis. The Department for International Development has recently commissioned several papers on the impact of Chinese policies in Africa, one of which, from the Institute of Development Studies, focuses on aid, among other issues. This paper can be found at the following website: http://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/global/AsianDriverpdfs/DFIDAgendaPaper06.pdf. Copies will also be placed in the Library of the House and sent to my hon. Friend.

Burma

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Government of Burma regarding humanitarian problems caused by the Burmese Army for the Karen, Karenni and Shan people.

Ian McCartney: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 16 May 2006,  Official Report, column 893W and the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe, gave the hon. Member for Clwyd, West (Mr. David Jones) on 23 May 2006,  Official Report, columns 1626W-27W.

Commonwealth Youth Sunday

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what countries Commonwealth Youth Sunday is observed.

Ian McCartney: I am unaware of Commonwealth Youth Sunday. National Youth Days are celebrated at different times of the year across the Commonwealth.

Ethiopia

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage Ethiopia to implement the International Boundary Commission 2002 ruling on the border with Eritrea.

Ian McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson) on 5 June 2006,  Official Report, column 318W.

Ethiopia

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her Department's policy is towards Ethiopia regarding the border dispute with Eritrea; and what assessment she has made of the effect of this policy on relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Ian McCartney: We have consistently urged the Ethiopian Government to accept the final and binding resolution of the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission and to allow demarcation of the frontier with Eritrea. We welcome the participation by both parties in the recent meetings of the Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission in London. We continue to urge both sides to engage constructively in future meetings of the Boundary Commission and to commence demarcation as quickly as possible. We remain committed to normalisation of relations on either side of the final border between the two countries as the only permanent basis for peace.

EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether  (a) she and  (b) diplomatic and consular staff plan to meet (i) Polisario and (ii) the Moroccan authorities to discuss the EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to discuss the EU/Morocco Fisheries Agreement with either the Polisario Front or the Moroccan authorities. However, on my recent visit to Morocco on 6 June, I discussed this issue with the Moroccan Deputy Foreign Minister. Officials have also discussed the agreement with representatives of both the Moroccan Government and members of the Polisario Front.
	The UK's position on the issue is clear. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Ben Bradshaw) to the hon. Member for Portsmouth South (Mr Mike Hancock) on 2 May (Official Report, column 1315W).

Madagascar

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of diplomatic links with Madagascar.

Ian McCartney: UK diplomatic links with Madagascar are conducted through a non-resident ambassador based in Port Louis, Mauritius and an honorary consul based in Antananarivo (we are currently seeking accreditation for both these officials), and through contact with the Malagasy embassy in London.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Government of Sudan regarding its attitude towards peace measures and human rights in Sudan.

Ian McCartney: My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, saw the Sudanese Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs on 7 June, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development also spoke to him. We welcomed the signature by the Government of Sudan of the Darfur Peace Agreement, and stressed the need for this to be implemented rapidly. On the Government's side early action on disarmament of the Janjaweed was key. We have condemned the grave abuses of human rights in Darfur and will continue to do so. There must be no impunity for those who have committed these crimes and those responsible must be brought to justice.

Trade-related Intellectual Property Rights

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will take steps to ensure that the EU does not negotiate bilateral deals which oblige countries to adopt intellectual property standards or timetables which go beyond trade-related intellectual property rights.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 12 June 2006
	The UK position on intellectual property rights in bilateral and regional agreements was published in the Government response to the report of the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights following recommendation 77 of the Commission under chapter 8—The International Architecture. This is available at the following website: http://www.iprcommission.org/graphic/uk_government _response.htm.
	The Government state clearly that bilateral and other agreements should not, as a matter of course, oblige countries to adopt intellectual property standards or timetables that go beyond the requirements of the World Trade Organisation Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. They also makes the further commitment that
	"For our part, we will seek to ensure that EU agreements with developing countries avoid imposing obligations beyond TRIPS".
	I can confirm that UK negotiators are routinely briefed regarding this commitment.
	The TRIPS Agreement, however, sets minimum standards and not a maximum level of intellectual property protection. It is therefore within a government's sovereign right to enhance their intellectual property protection if they judge it to be in their country's interest, including as part of an overall package of trade issues which make up a bilateral trade agreement.

Uganda

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written statement by the Secretary of State for International Development of 23 May 2006,  Official Report, column 81WS, on his visit to Uganda, what steps she is taking to ensure the Secretary General's recommendations to the Security Council of the United Nations are submitted without further delay; and if she will call for a UN Special Envoy, a UN Panel of Experts and action to improve the protection of civilians throughout Northern Uganda.

Ian McCartney: UN Security Council Resolution 1663 of 24 March 2006 requested the UN Secretary General to make recommendations to the Council on how to address more effectively the problem of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). On 26 April 2006, the Assistant Secretary General at the Department of Political Affairs briefed the Security Council on the threat posed by the LRA and made a number of recommendations, including that:
	a Panel of Experts be established to investigate the financial backing for the LRA;
	the Government of Uganda be encouraged to accept the appointment of a senior envoy for the LRA;
	the Government of Uganda set out a strategy for dealing with the root causes of the conflict through dialogue so that internally displaced peoples could return home.
	In the Security Council discussion which followed the UK welcomed these proposals. We are urging the Secretariat at all levels to deliver a detailed written report as soon as possible, as the basis for taking these proposals forward.
	The UK is encouraging the Ugandan Government to accept the appointment of a Special Envoy. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development raised this with President Museveni on 16 May when they discussed the role a Special Envoy could play in achieving greater regional co-operation on the LRA issue.
	Improving the protection of civilians is a crucial issue and on 4 May the Government of Uganda launched the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) to oversee the protection of civilians, the conditions of internally displaced persons planning for the return of the displaced to their homes and peace building including the return and reintegration of combatants and reconciliation.
	This JMC represents an important step forward. It involves greater public recognition by the Government of Uganda of the scale of the problem and it creates an opportunity for constructive dialogue and joint planning. The JMC is currently developing an action plan to take this work forward and our High Commission in Kampala and the Department for International Development Uganda are both closely involved in this.

Uganda

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the reports relating to the proposed trial for treason of Dr. Besigye, the Leader of the Opposition in Uganda; and if she will make a statement

Ian McCartney: Dr. Besigye, the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change party in Uganda, is currently on trial in the Ugandan High Court facing a number of treason charges. On 18 May this trial was put on hold pending the outcome of a petition to the Constitutional Court, made by Dr. Besigye's lawyers. The Constitutional Court is expected to give a ruling by the end of June 2006.
	On 16 May my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development raised Dr. Besigye's on-going High Court trial with President Museveni. The President gave an assurance that due process would be followed.

Uganda

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1971W, on Uganda, what assessment she has made of reports of  (a) the execution by Ugandan security forces of two soldiers for the alleged killing of Father O'Toole and  (b) the 2003 execution by Uganda Chieftaincy Military Intelligence of (i) Ismael Muviru, (ii) Mutwabil Walakira and (iii) Captain Sewamuwa Daudi; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Pursuant to my answer to the hon. Member on 25 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1970W, on Uganda, no-one has been executed on the orders of the High Court since 1999.
	Father Declan O'Toole and two workers from his parish were murdered on 20 March 2002. Following a field court martial two Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) soldiers, Corporal James Omediyo and Private Abdullah Mohammed were executed by firing squad on 25 March 2002. These executions prompted legal challenges to the authority of the UPDF to act in this manner and two related cases are currently before the Supreme Court of Uganda.
	The non-governmental organisation Human Rights Watch has claimed that, in September 2003, the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force detained without trial and then executed Ismael Muviru, Mutwabil Walakira, Captain Sewamuwa Daudi, and another unnamed man. The UPDF, the Uganda Human Rights Commission and the independent Foundation for Human Rights Initiative have reported that they investigated the allegations and could not find any evidence to verify the claim. There also was no known response to newspaper appeals for the public to come forward with any information on the case.
	We have repeatedly made clear to the Ugandan Government our opposition to the death penalty and the need for a fair and transparent judicial process.

UK Ambassador (Kyrgyzstan)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 June 2006 to question 74571, on the UK Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, what the cost was of  (a) travel,  (b) subsistence and  (c) accommodation for the (i) Ambassador, (ii) Deputy Head of Mission and (iii) Defence Attaché of each of the visits listed.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 12 June 2006
	The total cost of travel for the Ambassador, the Deputy Head of Mission and the Defence Attaché for their visits to Kyrgyzstan from Almaty, Kazakhstan since January 2005 is £589. The total combined costs for accommodation and subsistence for these visits is as follows: Ambassador—£3,752; Deputy Head of Mission—£2,237 and Defence Attaché—£3,730.

Whaling

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Norwegian Foreign Minister on  (a) Norway's expansion of its commercial whaling programme and  (b) Norway's support for Japan's attempts to gain a simple majority at the International Whaling Commission; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The UK's opposition to Norway's commercial whaling programme has been consistent and strong. In April 2006, the UK led a demarche against Norway's announcement of a record increase in the number of North Atlantic minke whales they plan to catch this year. We will continue to fight vigorously at the International Whaling Commission to oppose whaling activities. The focus of the recent meeting between my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and her Norwegian counterpart was Iran and the Middle East. Whaling was not discussed.

World Expo

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  why the UK has not signed up for the World Expo in Shanghai in 2010;
	(2)  what resources her Department has allocated to British participation in the World Expo in 2010.

Ian McCartney: We are considering the Chinese Government's formal invitation to participate in the Shanghai Expo 2010. As part of that process we are looking at how UK participation might be funded and we are discussing this with a wide range of possible stakeholders including Government Departments, other parts of the public sector, and many private sector companies.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Asylum and Immigration Tribunal

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what average time was taken by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal to process an appeal in relation to asylum seekers and immigration cases in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bridget Prentice: In the financial year 2005-06, the average time taken to promulgate immigration judge appeals in asylum cases was 15 weeks and in immigration cases, 14 weeks.

Legal Services

David Taylor: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps she is taking to reform the regulation of legal services.

Bridget Prentice: The draft Legal Services Bill (Cm 6839) which was published on 24 May 2006, sets out the Government's proposals for reform in the way legal services are regulated to deliver a better deal for consumers. These provide for the creation of a strong and independent oversight regulator, the Legal Services Board, a new independent Office for Legal Complaints and a provision for legal services to be provided in new ways to meet the needs of consumers. The draft Bill is currently subject to Pre-Legislative Scrutiny by a Joint Committee which is expected to report by 25 July. The Government will carefully consider the Joint Committee's recommendations and will introduce a full Bill as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Domestic Violence Court (Swansea)

Si�n James: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what consideration has been given to establishing a specialist domestic violence court in Swansea.

Harriet Harman: Swansea magistrates court is being considered as a venue for a specialist domestic violence court. An announcement will be made later this year after assessments of all bids across England and Wales including that from Swansea have been considered.

Victims of Crime

Ian Austin: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what mechanisms are in place to ensure that victims of crime and their families have a voice in court proceedings.

Harriet Harman: The Government are currently piloting victims advocates at five Crown courts. The scheme allows the relatives of murder and manslaughter victims the choice to speak in court about the impact of the crime on them, after conviction and before sentence.

Electoral Turnout

John Robertson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 May 2006,  Official Report, column 159W, on electoral turnout, what initiatives the Government have undertaken to promote participation in democracy.

Bridget Prentice: The Government's 1824 Collective campaign aimed to raise awareness of registration in advance of the May 2006 London elections. They are also working with local authorities to pilot ways of increasing registration nationally. They have also undertaken pilots in the 2006 elections aimed at modernising the voting process. The Electoral Administration Bill contains a number of clauses to encourage participation at elections.

Fine Defaulters/Bail

Iain Wright: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress has been made in introducing measures to deal with people who do not pay fines and who break their bail conditions.

Harriet Harman: On 27 March we completed the full national rollout to the magistrates courts in England and Wales of the tough new measures introduced in the Courts Act 2003 to deal with fine defaulters. We have also introduced a strategy to improve first time compliance with bail conditions, speed up the execution of Fail to Appear warrants and deal with Bail Act offences robustly when offenders are brought back before the court.

Next of Kin

Jeremy Wright: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans the Government have to review who is considered to be next of kin in cases where the next of kin is accused of the murder of the deceased.

Harriet Harman: The Government have no plans to carry out such a review.
	Being someone's next of kin does not automatically give a person the right to do anything. Being next of kin does not, for example, give a person a right to bury someone, or to administer their estate.

Family Courts

Sally Keeble: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will bring forward proposals to end enforcement action by family courts without a public hearing.

Harriet Harman: My hon. Friend will be pleased to know that the Government will soon be publishing a consultation paper on improving the openness of family courts which will focus on all family proceedings. I am sure hon. Members will take the opportunity to consider it and respond on this very important issue.

Dr. David Kelly

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer from the Under-Secretary of State at the Home Department of 5 June 2006,  Official Report, column 274W, on Dr. David Kelly, whether the Oxfordshire coroner consulted the police in this case in line with rule 6 of the Coroners Rules 1984.

Harriet Harman: Yes. The details are set out in the evidence given by ACC Page of Thames Valley police to the Hutton Inquiry on 3 September 2003.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcohol

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take  (a) to discourage alcohol volume drinking and  (b) to promote soft drink alternatives to alcohol; and what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to this end.

Vernon Coaker: The Government are proposing a number of measures to discourage alcohol volume drinking: it will later on this year begin a campaign to discourage binge-drinking, focusing on specific groups at the highest risk of harm; it is currently working with the alcohol industry and others to refresh and promote the sensible drinking message, including on product labelling; and it is working with the industry to prevent irresponsible drinks promotions, in particular those that encourage people to drink too much, too quickly.
	The Government support the industry's Social Responsibility Standards document and the Portman Group's code of practice, both of which include guidance on preventing irresponsible promotions. We are also encouraging the licensed trade to promote the safe consumption of alcohol, for example by linking alcohol promotions with soft drinks or food.
	The Department for Trade and Industry was involved in the development of the Social Responsibility Standards document and has provided advice on the competition issues impacting price promotions.

Alcohol

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many alcohol-related crimes have been committed in each of the last five years, broken down by  (a) age and  (b) sex of offenders.

Vernon Coaker: From the information collected, it is not possible to identify those offences which are alcohol-related. Such offences are not specifically defined by statute and details of the individual circumstances of offences do not feature in either the recorded crime or court proceedings data series.

Buses

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to prevent people using illegal drugs on buses.

Vernon Coaker: The initial responsibility in such circumstances falls to the bus operator. Any instances of drug misuse on buses should be reported to the police who will advice on the issue in general and respond to specific instances as appropriate.

Caravan Thefts

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were successfully prosecuted in Hampshire for the theft of a caravan in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 12 June 2006
	It is not possible to identify separately the number of thefts of caravans from other theft offences on the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform; data are therefore unavailable.

Child Trafficking

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated into the future of child trafficking victims after they have been returned to their home countries.

Vernon Coaker: The Government have not commissioned any evaluation into the futures of child trafficking victims who have returned to their county of origin. However Her Majesty's Government are aware that children returned to certain countries could be put at risk of further harm, with the likelihood of being re-trafficked. As a general principle, therefore, children will only be returned, where it is considered both possible and safe to do so and only after a full assessment of each case has been thoroughly carried out. Before considering the return of a child, full consideration is given to the Government's obligations under the immigration laws and the European Convention on Human Rights and the unique circumstances of each case including an assessment of the country of origin.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer the letter to his predecessor dated 27 February from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Ms E. Lennon.

John Reid: My right hon. Friend's letter, addressed to my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, was received by the Home Office on 22 March. My hon. Friend, the hon. Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham) replied on 27 March.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to his predecessor dated 10 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, about Mr. H. Kadir.

John Reid: A reply was sent to the right hon. Member on 20 April 2006.

Criminal Justice Act

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the custody plus provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 to be introduced.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 12 June 2006
	While continuing to work towards an implementation date of Autumn 2006 for Custody Plus, the Government would not implement such an important sentence unless it was satisfied that the National Offender Management Service could cope with the additional work. The issue of capacity to implement this fully and effectively is being considered.

Criminal Records Bureau

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much compensation the Criminal Records Bureau has paid for delays in processing criminal record checks in each year since it was established; and how many applicants received such compensation payments in each year;
	(2)  what total compensation was paid to individuals who were incorrectly assigned a criminal record at the Criminal Records Bureau in each of the last five years;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to compensate individuals wrongly assigned a criminal record by the Criminal Records Bureau.

Joan Ryan: The Criminal Records Bureau compensates customers for any loss which is a consequence of its maladministration. This includes errors and mistakes which the CRB have made that have delayed it from issuing Disclosures. However, there are a range of other factors that can contribute to delays in completing Disclosures, including incomplete or inaccurate application forms that require further information from the applicant or Countersignatory; the existence of criminal record information or other relevant non-conviction information and, for Enhanced Disclosures, the performance of Disclosure Units within police forces.
	The CRB aims to return customers to the position they would have been in but for its maladministration; this is by making ex-gratia awards. In financial year 2002-03, the CRB made 19 awards totalling 30,603 for consequential loss; in 2003-04 it made 47 awards totalling 56,618; in 2004-05 it made 32 awards totalling 26,489 and in 2005-06 it has made 59 awards totalling 67,014. The following table illustrates the number of awards made against the number of disclosures issued in each of those years:
	
		
			   Number of:  
			  Financial year  Disclosures issued  Awards  Value of awards () 
			 2002-03 1,441,704 19 30,603 
			 2003-04 2,287,109 47 86,618 
			 2004-05 2,434,290 32 25,489 
			 2005-06 2,772,929 59 67,014 
		
	
	Figures to determine the number of applicants that these sums were paid to are not available, because in some circumstances the awards were paid to Registered Bodies, employers or Umbrella Bodies.
	Information is not available to determine the total amount of compensation paid by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) for individuals who were issued with a Disclosure which, following investigation, was found to contain incorrect conviction information.
	The fact that a Disclosure is proved to be inaccurate after a dispute, often following a fingerprint check, does not automatically incur a redress award. This is because in some instances an applicant's details are the same, or very similar, to those of an individual with a record on the Police National Computer (PNC). It may be that the applicant's details have been used by another individual when arrested or convicted and the CRB has a statutory obligation to disclose such records where they are identified.
	The Disclosure Service enables individuals to dispute the content of a Disclosure and allows them to distinguish themselves from the record on the PNC. This did not happen under the previous arrangements. The CRB scheme complies with existing treasury guidelines.

Criminal Records Bureau

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Criminal Records Bureau checks are made on applicants for taxi licences who have previously resided overseas.

Joan Ryan: An individual may become known to the police within days of entering the country and eligible employers should therefore always be encouraged to undertake disclosure checks regardless of the length of time an individual has been resident in the UK. This applies to those who wish to obtain private hire and taxi licences.
	The CRB introduced the Overseas Faxback Service in February 2003, to provide details and guidance to employers and individuals on how to obtain a certificate of good conduct or a copy of a person's own criminal record from those countries included in the faxback service. This information can be used in conjunction with the full range of pre-appointment checks to ensure that the prospective employee is suitable for the post. These pre-appointment checks are the responsibility of the employer and a CRB disclosure is only one part of that process.
	Full details of this service are available on the CRB's website at www.crb.gov.uk. For those seeking general advice about the countries covered by the faxback service, the CRB also has a national rate enquiry line on 0870 0100 450 and an e-mail enquiry facility at overseas@crb.gsi.gov.uk.
	Some countries, including most in the EU, also have arrangements enabling their citizens to obtain certificates of good conduct or extracts from any existing criminal record to show to prospective employers. These may be obtained once the prospective employees have arrived in the UK but it may be advisable for them to obtain the document before leaving their home country.
	Following a recent EU Council decision, the CB has, in conjunction with Home Office colleagues and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), become involved in EU initiatives to explore how criminal record and disqualification data cross EU states might be used for employment vetting and disclosure purpose. These discussions are in the preliminary stages at present and more information will become available in due course. The CRB are also in discussion with ACPO and others about seeking access to other, non-EU, overseas conviction data.

Crossbows

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restrictions apply to the  (a) sale and  (b) use of crossbows.

Vernon Coaker: It is an offence under the Crossbows Act 1987 to sell or hire a crossbow to a person under the age of 17 and for a person under the age of 17 to purchase or possess a crossbow. In the Violent Crime Reduction Bill currently before Parliament, we are proposing to increase this age limit to 18. Those carrying a crossbow in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse could be committing the offence of carrying an offensive weapon in a public place under section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953.

Deportation

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether  (a) fingerprints and  (b) DNA samples are taken from those who are deported from the UK.

Joan Ryan: It is not routine practice to fingerprint deportees under immigration powers, as the notice of intention to deport is often served by the prison service on behalf of the immigration service. However, fingerprints will be taken if the prisoner lodges a claim for asylum or as part of the re-documentation process. Fingerprints may also have been taken at an earlier stage if the deportee had been identified as an immigration offender or under police powers at the point of charging.
	Immigration legislation does not give immigration or police officers the power to take DNA samples from individuals. However, where the Immigration Service is looking to prosecute an individual, we will consider asking the police to take DNA samples on an individual case basis in accordance with their powers under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984. Under provisions in PACE, police officers may take a DNA sample from any person arrested or charged in connection with a recordable offence.

Suspects (Description)

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been issued on the releasing of information on a suspect's ethnic origin as part of a description where the public's help is sought in tracing the suspect.

Tony McNulty: The release of information in relation to the description of a suspect is an operational matter. The Association of Chief Constables (ACPO) Media Advisory Group provides guidance to the police on working with the media and releasing information about individual cases. The Media Advisory Group's guidance is at:
	http://www.acpo.police.uk/asp/policies/Data/magguidelines.pdf

Financial Fraud

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances of financial fraud have taken place in each of the last five years involving credit card cheques; and what the total value was in each year.

Vernon Coaker: The available information relates to recorded offences of cheque and credit card fraud and is published in Table 2.04 of Crime in England and Wales 2004-05. A copy of this table is available at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb1105chap2.xls
	The Home Office does not collect data on the total value involved. Statistics provided by the Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) on financial losses were also published in section 4.6 of the volume referred to above. These are available on the website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb1105chap456.pdf

Holocaust Memorial Day

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Muslim Council of Britain on Holocaust Memorial Day; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The Secretary of State for the Home Department last met representatives of the Muslim Council of Britain on the 3 May 2006. There is no formal record of the meeting. However, whenever the issue of Holocaust Memorial Day has been raised, the Home Secretary has stressed that the Government take a broad and inclusive approach towards the content and community outreach of the commemoration. Lessons about the need to confront all forms of racism and hatred, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, have been a consistent theme of Holocaust Memorial Day. The Government regret that the Muslim Council of Britain does not support Holocaust Memorial Day and we hope that in the near future they will reconsider their stance.

Knife Crimes

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many violent crimes have been committed using a knife in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not collected centrally. Crimes involving the use of a knife cannot be separately identified in the recorded crime statistics.
	The Homicide Index has details of the number of homicides where the apparent method of killing was by a sharp instrument. Figures for the last five years are given in the following table:
	
		
			  Offences of homicide where the apparent method of killing was by a sharp instrument: England and Wales 
			   Number of offences 
			 2000-01 214 
			 2001-02 261 
			 2002-03 266 
			 2003-04 234 
			 2004-05 236

Medicinal Imports

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to allow pharmaceutical manufacturers of opiate-based analgesic medicines to import their raw materials from overseas manufacturers; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: In common with other major opiate manufacturing countries, the United Kingdom does not permit importation of such base material drugs domestically manufactured and readily available. This policy is in furtherance of the aims of the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961 to limit international supply to what is necessary for countries' medical needs. It is adjusted to take account of treaty obligations on overseas trade with the European Union and the European Economic Association only.

National Non-Emergency Number

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the national non-emergency number for community safety advice and action will be available for use in Dudley.

Liam Byrne: The 101 single non-emergency number service for community safety action, information and advice will be rolled out across England and Wales in a number of waves. The first wave of services have been launched in Hampshire and South Wales, with Leicestershire and Rutland, South Yorkshire and Northumbria launching in summer 2006. The next wave of areas is yet to be agreed. It is planned that the service will be available across England and Wales by the end of 2008.

Police

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil service staff hours have been spent on duties related to police reorganisation since 16 September 2005; and what estimate he has made of the number of staff hours which will be spent on this issue in  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2007.

Tony McNulty: Six Home Office officials have been working on police restructuring since my right hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke), the then Home Secretary, launched the review in September 2005. The implementation team currently includes eleven Home Office officials (full-time equivalents). No estimate has been made of the number of staff hours which will be spent on this issue in 2006 and 2007.

Police

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of his Ministers have duties related to the proposed police reorganisation in England and Wales; and how many hours these Ministers have spent on issues related to police reorganisation.

Tony McNulty: As the Minister of State for Policing, Security and Community Safety, I am responsible for the work relating to the proposed police reorganisation in England and Wales. I have recently begun a series of meetings with chief constables, chairs of police authorities and other stakeholders on police restructuring.

Police

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) telephone calls and  (b) meetings he has had with chief constables to discuss police restructuring in England and Wales.

Tony McNulty: The Home Secretary had the opportunity to discuss police restructuring with senior police colleagues at the Association of Chief Police Officers conference in May, but it is not possible to identify how many telephone calls he has had.

Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have been convicted of a criminal offence in each of the last five years, broken down by type of criminal offence.

Tony McNulty: It is not possible to identify the number of police officers convicted of a criminal offence as details of defendants are not held centrally.

Police

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outsourcing of police custody suites.

Tony McNulty: Police authorities and chief constables have responsibility for the local provision of custody facilities and the resourcing of those facilities. Chief constables have specific responsibility under section 35 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) for the designation of police stations in their area which are used for the purpose of detaining arrested persons.
	Each chief officer is responsible for ensuring that all police officers and police staff working in their custody suites are suitable, capable and trained whether police staff are employed directly or through a contractor. Most forces make use of the mixed economy approach. It provides chief officers with a level of flexibility to provide staffing levels to meet local requirements while providing the overarching framework to raise standards and achieve improved custodial care.
	The National Centre for Policing Excellence on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Home Office has produced the 'Guidance on the Safer Detention and Handling of Persons in Police Custody'. The guidance was launched on 8 February 2006. The guidance identifies the standards expected of both police officers and police staff in the handling of persons who come into police contact.

Police

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there are in Lancashire; and how many there were in 1997.

Tony McNulty: As at 30 September 2005 there were 3,550 full-time equivalent police officers (FTE officers is less those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave) in Lancashire. As at 30 September 1997 there were 3,281 FTE officers. This represents an 8 per cent. increase over the period.

Police

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police raids on suspected terrorist sites in the past three years have been based on false information; and what the cost of the raids was.

Tony McNulty: It is not our policy to comment on police operations on suspected terrorist sites or their cost. This is an operational matter for the police.

Police

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of his time the Permanent Secretary of his Department has spent on police force restructuring in the last 12 months.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 15 May 2006
	It is not possible to identify what proportion of his time the Permanent Secretary has spent on police restructuring in the last 12 months.

Police

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of his officials have been deployed on police force restructuring in the last 12 months.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 15 May 2006
	Six Home Office officials have been working on police restructuring since the then Home Secretary launched the review in September 2005. The implementation team currently includes eleven Home Office officials (full-time equivalents).

Police

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of his official time has been spent on police force restructuring in the last 12 months.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 15 May 2006
	It is not possible to identify the proportion of the Home Secretary's official time that has been spent on police restructuring in the last 12 months.

Police

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the cost of bringing protective services in the four Welsh police forces up to the level considered Fit for Purpose in the report Closing the Gap by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary.

Tony McNulty: The case submitted by the four Welsh police authorities in December 2005 identified costs and benefits of force merger, including a considerable investment to provide an uplift in protective services.
	Our assessment, based on independent financial review and professional moderation, is that the same benefits could be realised for a much lower investment. The Home Office continues to work with Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary and the Welsh police forces and authorities to review the business case, to refine the costs and benefits of providing the necessary uplift in protective service provision while achieving best value for money.
	The operational assessment that a single authority and force for Wales is the best option to protect people better from serious crime and terrorism remains unchanged.

Police

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days of absence have been taken by officers of the Metropolitan police as a result of injuries sustained from collisions of police vehicles travelling above the speed limit in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: This information is not collected by the Home Office.

Prisons

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1212W, on Leyhill open prison, how many of those prisoners escaping have not yet been detained, broken down by  (a) original offence and  (b) the year of escape.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Leyhill is an open prison with no secure perimeter and prisoners are not held in secure accommodation. Prisoners who leave the premises without authority or do not return are defined as absconders rather than escapees. Since 1999 there have been 393 absconds. Of those absconds, 25 only remain unlawfully at large. Details of these are provided in the table. The police are notified when prisoners abscond and their details are entered on the Police National Computer.
	
		
			  Absconders from Leyhill prison unlawfully at large 
			  Offence  Date of abscond 
			 Possession of a firearm with intent 5 March 2006 
			 Possession of drugs 15 December 2005 
			 Theft 26 November 2005 
			 Possession of drugs 30 October 2005 
			 Robbery 8 September 2005 
			 Customs and Excise evasion (drugs) 31 July 2005 
			 Import of drugs 27 March 2005 
			 Aggravated burglary 27 January 2005 
			 Import of drugs 27 January 2005 
			 Death by reckless driving 19 December 2004 
			 Possession of drugs with intent 2 December 2004 
			 Burglary of a dwelling 27 July 2004 
			 Theft 5 August 2003 
			 Robbery 29 July 2003 
			 Robbery 8 December 2002 
			 Burglary 5 May 2002 
			 Theft 6 September 2001 
			 Murder 5 March 2001 
			 Robbery 18 May 2000 
			 Murder 6 March 1999 
			 Manslaughter 17 February 1999 
			 Murder 6 December 1998 
			 Attempted robbery 5 December 1998 
			 Drugs 26 December 1997 
			 Import drugs 16 May 1997

Probation Officers

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time probation officers were employed in the area covered by the Greater London magistrates courts in each of the last six years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 12 June 2006
	Information is not available for the full period requested. Data collected prior to 1 April 2003 are unreliable, and are not directly comparable with the more accurate figures collected since that time. In addition, due to the manual process employed in the collection of data for quarter one 2003-04 it is not possible to breakdown the data requested by area. The figures presented in the table show full time equivalent (FTE) figures at the close of each quarter from 1 July 2003 to 31 March 2006.
	
		
			  London  Probation Officers( 1) 
			  2003-04  
			 Quarter 2 795.70 
			 Quarter 3 840.50 
			 Quarter 4 862.50 
			   
			 2004-05  
			 Quarter 1 864.80 
			 Quarter 2 874.60 
			 Quarter 3 835.41 
			 Quarter 4 834.54 
			   
			 2005-06  
			 Quarter 1 820.07 
			 Quarter 2 829.74 
			 Quarter 3 821.44 
			 Quarter 4(2) 824.80 
			 (1) The 'probation officers' category includes the senior probation officer, senior practitioner, and probation officer job groups. Trainee probation officers have been excluded from these figures.  (2 )From Quarter 4 2005-06 the workforce data collected will be structured according to the new offender management model. These latest figures are as yet unpublished and are currently being validated. As a result of this they may be subject to change.

Proceeds of Crime Act

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of assets seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 were returned to the Cambridgeshire Constabulary from seizures in the Cambridgeshire police force area in each year since 2003-04; what the value was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The police asset recovery incentive scheme came into force in 2004-05. Under the scheme, agreed with the Association of Chief Police Officers, police forces received one-third of all assets recovered above 40 million in 2004-05, rising to one-half in 2005-06 allocated to individual forces on the basis of their performance.
	Cambridgeshire Constabulary received an incentive payment of 410,828 for their performance in 2004-05 and will shortly receive a payment of 48,033 for 2005-06.

Registration Marks Regulations

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) males and  (b) females have been (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted of an offence under the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 in (A) Southend, (B) Essex, (C) Hertfordshire, (D) the Metropolitan Police area of London and (E) England and Wales in each year since 2002, broken down by age group.

Tony McNulty: A breach of the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 amounts to an offence under s.59(1) of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994. However, this offence forms part of a group of miscellaneous motoring offences in the data held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. It is not possible to separate these offences from others within the group and therefore no separate data can be provided.

Resignation

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times he has offered his resignation to the Prime Minister; and on what dates.

John Reid: This is a matter for my right hon. friend the former Home Secretary.

Runaway Children

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish his Department's strategy for co-ordinating police forces' response for safeguarding children who run away or go missing from home or care.

Tony McNulty: Our aims are to reduce the number of missing person episodes and, so far as the police are concerned, ensure that all inquiries are risk-assessed and pursued appropriately in accordance with guidance approved by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). To achieve this we are striving to develop effective partnership working across the statutory and voluntary sectors and are providing funding and support through data exchange protocols. This should help provide better analysis of the extent and nature of the problem which will support policy development.
	ACPO, the Police National Missing Persons Bureau (PNMB) in the Metropolitan Police and the voluntary organisations are currently developing proposals for improved working which we look forward to considering.

Security Industry Authority

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for registration with the Security Industry Authority as a door supervisor have been  (a) approved and  (b) rejected since inception of the scheme.

Vernon Coaker: As of 7 June, 44,983 door supervisor licences have been granted, and 2,793 refused.

Security Industry Authority

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for registration with the Security Industry Authority as a door supervisor are awaiting decision.

Vernon Coaker: As of 7 June, 7,665 door supervisor applications are currently in the SIA's processing system awaiting a decision.
	The SIA's licensing statistics are updated weekly on the SIA website at: http://www.the-sia.org.uk/home/licensing/stats_2.htm.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Adviser Discretion Fund

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of individual grants made under the Adviser Discretion Fund in each of the last 12 months were for  (a) less than 100,  (b) between 100 and 300 and  (c) over 300; and what the total amount paid was in each category.

Jim Murphy: The information requested is not routinely collected and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Information is available on the number of awards made and total value of those awards in each of the last 12 months (April 2005 to March 2006). In this period 221,214 awards were made at a cost of 16.3 million. The average value of awards was 73.72.

Departmental Jobs (Regional Distribution)

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of jobs in  (a) his Department and  (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which his Department is responsible are located in (A) Scotland, (B) England, excluding Greater London, (C) Greater London, (D) Wales and (E) Northern Ireland.

Anne McGuire: Table D of Civil Service Statistics covers permanent staff numbers (full-time equivalent) in each Department and agency. Information on The Health and Safety Executive, part of the Department since June 2002, is available in the same publication.
	Civil Service Statistics are available in the Library and at the following address on the Cabinet Office website: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_ of_the_civil service/statistics/civil service_statistics/index.asp
	Information on the number of civil servants in other public bodies for which the Department has responsibility is included in the information in Civil Service Statistics but is not separately identified. The number and location of these staff are as follows:
	
		
			  Statutory body  London  West Midlands  North East  Total 
			 Independent Review Service  93  93 
			 Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority   40 40 
			 Office of the Pensions Ombudsman 33   33 
			 Social Security Advisory Committee 3   3 
			 Total 36 93 40 169 
			  Note:  Staffing figures are full-time equivalent permanent staff as at April 2004, the same date as the available information on the Cabinet Office website.

Departmental Vehicles

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cars are  (a) owned and  (b) leased by his Department; what models the cars are; what type of petrol each model requires; and what the fuel efficiency is of each model.

Anne McGuire: The available information is shown.
	
		
			  (a) Vehicles owned by the Department 
			  Make  Model  Number  Percentage 
			 Vauxhall Astra, Vectra, Corsa, Zafira 1,183 44.3 
			 Peugeot 206, 307, 406 558 20.8 
			 Ford Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo 353 13.2 
			 Citroen C3, C4, C5 137 5.1 
			 Fiat Punto 50 1.9 
			 Volvo S40, V50 43 1.6 
			 Nissan Almera 32 1.2 
			 Toyota Corolla, Avensis, Prius 269 10.1 
			 Volkswagen Golf 24 0.9 
			 Honda Motorcycles 11 0.3 
			 Mercedes Vans 9 0.3 
			 London Taxi  2 0.1 
			 Renault  1 0.1 
			 Suzuki  1 0.1 
			 Total  2,673  
		
	
	 (b) The Department does not lease any vehicles.
	Records of fuel type by individual model are not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The information available is in the table.
	
		
			  Fuel types  Number 
			 Diesel 1,490 
			 Diesel Euro IV 417 
			 Liquid Petroleum Gas 512 
			 Petroleum 232 
			 Hybrid Electric 22 
			 Total 2,673 
		
	
	The Department does not maintain records of the fuel efficiency of its vehicles.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his oral statement of 25 May 2006,  Official Report, columns 1648-70, on pensions reform, what steps he is taking to allow early retirement funded by the Financial Assistance Scheme if a beneficiary is in ill health.

James Purnell: Financial Assistance Scheme payments commence at age 65, except in special circumstances where early payment can be made to terminally ill qualifying members or to survivors of qualifying members who have died, on application by the scheme trustees.
	We have no plans to extend early access to payments more broadly to anyone in ill health.

Incentive Packages

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value is of  (a) pay supplements,  (b) bonuses and  (c) other incentive packages that are payable in his Department on the basis of geographic location; how many people are in receipt of each payment; and what the total cost to his Department of each payment was in 2004-05.

Anne McGuire: The information is as follows.
	 (a) DWP has four geographical pay areas:
	National
	Inner London
	Outer London, and
	Specified Location Zone (SLPZ)
	The differential cost is not a standard amount but is calculated in each individual pay range.
	The current numbers of staff in post in each individual pay area, the 2005 value of the average additional cost above national rates for each of the main grades and the estimated total additional cost in 2004-05 are contained in the following tables:
	
		
			  Table 1: Staff in post (October 2005) and additional average salary value above national rates in 2005 
			  Grade  SLPZ  Outer London  Inner London  Total Staff 
			   Number  ()  Number  ()  Number  ()  Number 
			 Band A/AA 111 1,695 316 2,155 509 3,290 936 
			 Band B/AO 1,070 1,870 2,858 2,345 4,943 3,480 8,871 
			 Band C/EO 972 1,930 2,216 2,275 4,972 3,420 8,160 
			 Band D/HEO 122 1,845 268 2,310 973 3,415 1,363 
			 Band E/SEO 29 2,065 64 2,520 458 3,665 551 
			 Band F/Grade 7 11 2,565 17 3,020 368 4,000 396 
			 Band G/Grade 6 3 3,235 8 3,690 140 4,740 151 
			 Total 2,318  5,747  12,363  20,428 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Estimated total additional cost of pay areas in 2004-05 
			   million 
			  Grade  SLPZ  Outer London  Inner London  Total 
			 Band A/AA 0.058 0.213 0.571 0.843 
			 Band B/AO 0.521 1.866 4.589 6.976 
			 Band C/EO 0.472 1.307 4.325 6.103 
			 Band D/HEO 0.064 0.180 0.867 1.111 
			 Band E/SEO 0.019 0.047 0.432 0.499 
			 Band F/Grade 7 0.009 0.016 0.360 0.386 
			 Band G/Grade 6 0.005 0.010 0.145 0.160 
			 Total 1.148 3.639 11.289 16.078 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: Estimated total additional cost as a percentage of total paybill 
			  Percentage 
			  Grade  SLPZ  Outer London  Inner London  Total 
			 Total 0.05 0.15 0.47 0.68 
		
	
	In addition to the above pay areas, DWP pays a location based recruitment and retention addition (RRA) to staff based on a number of Scottish islands:
	Orkneys
	Shetland
	Outer Hebridies
	Tiree
	Islay and
	Jura
	In 2004-05 it is estimated that some 106 staff were eligible for payments at a total cost of some 92,000 pounds.
	 (b) DWP does not pay bonuses on the basis of geographical locations.
	 (c) DWP does not have any incentive packages in place for staff in any particular geographical locations.

Jobcentres

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Jobcentre Plus offices closed in 2005-06; and how many are planned for closure in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question on how many jobcentre plus offices closed in 2005/06; and how many are planned for closure in (a) 2006/07 and (b) 2007/08. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The shape of the Jobcentre Plus network is under continual review. Following the creation of Jobcentre Plus in 2002 a programme of closures emerged. A detailed service delivery planning exercise was carried out in each District, in consultation with local stakeholders, to identify the locations from which new processes and services would be delivered. Jobcentre Plus inherited a network of around 1500 offices from the former Employment Service and Benefits Agency. It was established during the service delivery planning process that many were unsuitable due to the fabric of the building, location or both. These factors influenced the shaping of the future network. For these reasons a total of 206 offices have closed since 1st April 2005. A further 113 offices are scheduled to close in 2006/07 and 8 during 2007/08. In addition there are a number which are scheduled to close but for which final closure dates are subject to further planning and stakeholder consultation.
	Secondly, as a result of a decision in September 2004 to centralise the processing of benefits, 35 offices have been identified for closure once processing work has migrated out of those locations. Four have closed during 2005/06. The closure dates for the remaining offices is subject to more detailed planning but the assumption is that a further 10 will be closed during 2006/07 and the remaining 21 sites during 2007/08.
	We continue to evaluate our services and the network of offices from which they are delivered to ensure efficiency. Any site identified as a potential closure, as part of this process, is referred to the Minister of State for consideration. To date 12 offices have been agreed for closure. The actual dates for these closures are currently being finalised but the expectation is that they will occur during 2006/07.

Manchester Action Team

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in  (a) Manchester, Withington constituency and  (b) the City of Manchester have found employment as a result of the Manchester Action Team.

Jim Murphy: During the period April 2004 to March 2006 the Manchester Central and Manchester South Action Teams helped 538 people from the Manchester Withington constituency into work. Information is not available prior to this period because of changes to ward boundaries.
	From October 2000 to March 2006 the four Manchester based Action Teams (Manchester Central, Manchester North, Manchester South, and Salford) helped 12,545 people into work.

Pensions

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures he is taking to ensure that all pensioner households receive their full entitlement of benefits.

James Purnell: The Pension Service has written to every pensioner household to tell them about pension credit. In the last eight months the Pension Service has carried out a number of campaign initiatives such as the You're Missing Out direct mailings targeted at 1.5 million people most likely to be entitled. Full page adverts have also been taken out in the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, Sun, News of the World, Daily Record, and the People.
	The Pension Service local service also offers a full benefit entitlement check to customers that focus on a range of entitlements including pension credit.
	Since 5 December 2005 customers who contact the pension credit application line to make an application have also been able to claim housing benefit and council tax benefit during the one phone call.
	Over the financial year the Pension Service will be:
	Writing again to everyone we believe may have an entitlement to pension credit, encouraging them to apply and advising how the Pension Service can help them do so over two million mailings are planned.
	Offering face-to-face visits and a full benefit entitlement check to the most highly eligible and vulnerable pensionerswith plans to undertake over one million successful home visits.
	Handling over 1.3 million calls from customers and making telephone calls to around 250,000 customers to encourage and help them to apply for pension credit and council tax benefit and housing benefitat one time and with one call.
	Continuing to issue an invitation to claim the state pension approximately four months prior to customers reaching their state pension age.

Pensions

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners living in Chorley constituency are in receipt of pension credit.

James Purnell: The most recent number of households and individuals receiving pension credit in the Chorley constituency are in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of recipients 
			 Households 4,060 
			 Individual beneficiaries 5,000 
			  Notes:  1. These figures are early estimates. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). However, the figures provided are the latest available figures which are taken from the GMS scan at 17 February 2006. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and GMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure. Average amounts are displayed as at the scan reference data of 17 February 2006.  2. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest ten.  3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory.  4. Individual beneficiaries comprise claimants and partners and may include partners who are aged less than 60.   Source:  DWP: 100 per cent. data from the Generalised Matching Service (GMS). Pension credit scan taken as at 17 February 2006.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the cost of uprating the basic state pension at  (a) earnings growth and  (b) 5 per cent. per annum in each year from 2006 to 2030, assuming price indexation as the benchmark.

James Purnell: The information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		
			   Net costs ( billion) 
			   (a) Earnings growth  (b) 5 per cent. per annum 
			 2006 0.4 0.6 
			 2007 0.7 1.3 
			 2008 1.3 2.0 
			 2009 1.9 2.6 
			 2010 2.6 3.4 
			 2015 6.3 7.4 
			 2020 10.7 12.1 
			 2025 16.8 18.6 
			 2030 24.5 26.9 
			  Notes:  1. Figures are in 2006-07 price terms in billions rounded to the nearest 100 million.  2. Costs are measured against current policy with basic state pension linked to prices.  3. The costs are net of income related benefits.  4. Figures are for Great Britain and overseas expenditure.   Source:  The figures are based on departmental expenditure forecasts and simulation models.

Pensions

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will post on his departmental website his response to the report of the Parliamentary Ombudsman on occupational pensions;
	(2)  when he was first informed of all the recommendations in the report of the Parliamentary Ombudsman on occupational pensions;
	(3)  what factors he took into account when deciding not to follow the Parliamentary Ombudsman's recommendation to consider her report Trusting in the Pensions Promise for a period of two months before responding.

James Purnell: The Department first received draft recommendations from the Ombudsman on 21 December 2005 and responded provisionally in January 2006 A further draft was provided by the Ombudsman on 13 February which the Department also responded to. The recommendations in the published report are substantially the same as were in these two drafts. Therefore, when the report was published the Department had already had over two months to consider the issues raised. Having decided that it was not able to accept four out of the five recommendations made by the Ombudsman, the Department saw no reason to delay responding to her published report. To do so could have raised expectations in the affected members which would not be met.
	In his oral statement on 16 March the Secretary of State informed the House that he would publish a full response to the Ombudsman's report. This response is on the departmental website at www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2006/pensions/response-ombudsman.pdf.

Pensions

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on progress with the admission of the MG Rover pension scheme to the Pension Protection Fund.

James Purnell: The MG Rover pension schemes are currently in a Pension Protection Fund (PPF) assessment period.
	The PPF works with scheme trustees to progress schemes through the assessment periods as quickly as possible.
	During the assessment period, scheme members receive the PPF level of benefits.

Spending Review (Efficiency Targets)

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what total efficiency savings were achieved by his Department in 2004-05; and whether these count towards the agreed efficiency target for his Department set out in the 2004 Spending Review.

Anne McGuire: Total efficiency savings made by DWP in 2004-05 are estimated at 313 million.
	The target for DWP is that we realise annual efficiency gains of at least 960 million by 2007-08 against our spending in 2003-04. As such these early savings do not count towards our agreed efficiency target but are an encouraging indication of DWP's ability to meet the efficiency target set for the Department in the 2004 Spending Review.

Teleclaiming

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of the teleclaiming system on claimants  (a) with psychosis,  (b) with other mental illnesses,  (c) on low income and  (d) for whom English is a second language.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 26 April 2006
	While no specific research has been undertaken in relation to the impact on people with specific conditions such as psychosis, Jobcentre Plus aims to make access to its services as straightforward as possible.
	Initial contact by telephone is our normal and preferred way of taking claims. However, our delivery of services is tailored to meet individual customer requirements taking health conditions, disabilities, and language barriers into consideration. Staff will hold face to face interviews where a customer cannot use telephone based services.
	Where a customer's first language is not English, Jobcentre Plus will use Language Line which provides a translation service between customer and our staff. We also provide other translation services and specialist equipment for disabled customers.
	We recognise that customers on a low income may be concerned about the costs of calls made to the Contact Centre. Jobcentre Plus Contact Centres operate a local BT rate 0845 number although customers using mobile telephones or other landline networks are charged at their network provider's normal tariff. Customers can also use warm phones in local Jobcentre Plus offices to make this call free of charge and when asked we can arrange to call them back at any point during their call.
	In addition we are currently operating a free phone pilot within two of our Contact Centres, where we are offering a 0800 free phone number to customers using our services from a landline. If the pilot is successful we are considering extending this nationally.
	In delivering high quality services to our wide and diverse customer groups, we do recognise that some customers face particular difficulties. For example, we are working in consultation with stakeholder groups such as the Royal National Institute for the Deaf to continuously improve our processes.
	The Department has recently established a group to examine best practice in the use of telephony for people who have difficulty accessing services and this group will make recommendations on implementing service changes.
	Jobcentre Plus is about to commission a programme of research to look at whether certain groups, such as customers with specific physical and/or learning difficulties have problems making contact. The results of this research will be available by early summer 2007.

Work-based Learning (Surrey)

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in  (a) Surrey,  (b) Guildford and  (c) Waverley have (i) participated in and (ii) completed each of the three Work Based Learning for Adults Scheme stages in each year since 1997.

Jim Murphy: Work Based learning for Adults was launched in 1998, replacing Training for Work. In April 2001, the delivery of Work Based Learning for Adults was transferred from Training and Enterprise Councils in England to the former Employment Service, to ensure greater coherence between the support available to unemployed people, and to make Work Based Learning for Adults even more work-focused.
	Information on the numbers of starters and leavers for the various strands of Work Based Learning for Adults in Surrey, Guildford and Waverley is available from April 2001 and is shown in the following table.
	From April 2006, voluntary training outside the new deals will no longer be supported. Training in the new deal programmes, including voluntary training, will continue to be funded; this includes new deal for lone parents and new deal for partners programme.
	We are also working closely with DfES and the Leaning and Skills Council to see how they can give greater access to basic skills training for people not participating in the new deal programmes.
	
		
			  Surrey local authority county 
			   Basic employability training  Longer occupational training  Short job focused training  Self employment 
			  Starts 
			 2001 (from April) 50 140 170 150 
			 2002 40 200 80 480 
			 2003 90 170 50 740 
			 2004 130 210 50 810 
			 2005 120 140 50 790 
			 2006 (to February) 20   20 
			  
			  Leavers 
			 2001 (from April) 30 80 150 120 
			 2002 60 200 100 450 
			 2003 80 200 40 700 
			 2004 110 180 50 790 
			 2005 120 190 60 780 
			 2006 (to February) 20   40 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to nearest 10. 2. Date on programme completers is not available, data on programme leavers, which includes people who did not complete the programme, is shown in the tables. 3. Jobcentre Plus became responsible for the delivery of Work Based Learning for Adults from April 2001. Source: DWP, Information Division Work Based Learning for Adults Evaluation database. 
		
	
	
		
			  Guildford local authority district 
			   Basic employability training  Longer occupational training  Short job focused training  Self employment 
			  Starts 
			 2001 (from April)  30 20 20 
			 2002 10 40 10 70 
			 2003 20 30  110 
			 2004 20 20  180 
			 2005 10 20  160 
			 2006 (to February) 
			  Leavers 
			 2001 (from April) 10 20 20 10 
			 2002 10 40 10 70 
			 2003  40 10 110 
			 2004 10 20  170 
			 2005 10 20  160 
			 2006 (to February)10 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to nearest 10. 2. Data on programme completers are not available, data on programme leavers, which includes people who did not complete the programme, are shown in the tables. 3. Jobcentre Plus became responsible for the delivery of Work Based Learning for Adults from April 2001.  Source: DWP, Information Division Work Based Learning for Adults Evaluation database. 
		
	
	
		
			  Waverley local authority district 
			   Basic employability training  Longer occupational training  Short job focused training  Self employment 
			  Starts 
			 2001 (from April) 10 20 20 30 
			 2002  30 10 50 
			 2003  20 10 90 
			 2004 10 10  80 
			 2005  10  100 
			 2006 (to February) 
			  
			  Leavers 
			 2001 (from April) 10 10 20 30 
			 2002 10 30 10 40 
			 2003  20 10 80 
			 2004  10  90 
			 2005  10  100 
			 2006 (to February) 
			  Notes:  1. Figures are rounded to nearest 10.  2. Data on programme completers are not available, data on programme leavers, which includes people who did not complete the programme, are shown in the tables.  3. Jobcentre Plus became responsible for the delivery of Work Based Learning for Adults from April 2001.   Source: DWP, Information Division Work Based Learning for Adults Evaluation database.

Work-based Learning (Surrey)

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what funding has been available for work based learning for adults schemes in  (a) Surrey,  (b) Guildford and  (c) Waverley in each financial year since 1997; and what funding is projected for 2005-06.

Jim Murphy: Information on programme spend and projected spend is not available broken down by parliamentary constituency, local authority or county council.
	Information on expenditure on work based learning is available at Jobcentre Plus district level for the last three years. The figures for the Surrey and Sussex district, which includes Surrey, Guildford and Waverly, are in the table.
	
		
			  Expenditure on work based learning for adults  Surrey and Sussex Jobcentre Plus district 
			   
			   Work based learning for adults 
			 2003-04 1,771,584 
			 2004-05 2,214,728 
			 2005-06 2,140,107

HEALTH

Abortions

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS of carrying out abortions  (a) in the UK and  (b) in Gloucestershire was in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: The available information is set out in the following tables.
	The cost to the national health service of carrying out abortions in England is shown in table one. For NHS providers data for the period prior to 1997-98 are not held centrally. For non-NHS providers, data for the period prior to 2002-03 are not held centrally. These data do not include personal medical services pilots.
	Table two shows the cost to the NHS of carrying out abortions in NHS providers in Gloucestershire. Data are not collected on a geographical basis and the data provided cover the following organisations:
	Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust (PCT);
	Cheltenham and Tewkesbury PCT;
	West Gloucestershire PCT; and
	Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
	Equivalent data prior to 2002-03 are not available due to organisation reconfiguration.
	No data were submitted for non-NHS providers by these organisations.
	
		
			  Table 1: National schedule of reference costsCost of termination of pregnancy 
			   
			   NHS providers  Non-NHS providers 
			 1997-98 20,472,084 n/a 
			 1998-99 28,097,500 n/a 
			 1999-2000 29,308,577 n/a 
			 2000-01 30,990,216 n/a 
			 2001-02 33,425,262 n/a 
			 2002-03 36,349,538 4,762,972 
			 2003-04 36,759,034 8,740,792 
			 2004-05 39,264,951 10,693,466 
			  Notes: 1. NHS providers data based on returns from NHS trusts, foundation trusts and PCTs in England. 2. Non-NHS providers data based on returns from NHS trusts, foundation trusts and PCTs in England for activity they contract out to / directly commission from non-NHS providers. 3. For non-NHS providers collections prior to 2003, this information was not collected separately. It would have been reported in part in the NHS trust own data return. 4. Data also relate to activity carried out for admitted patients (does not include outpatients) and exclude excess bed days. 5. We do not distinguish between trimesters in the above, therefore the above will be an average of all. 6. Figures include market forces factor (MFF).  Sources:  NHS providers: National schedule of reference costs 1998. Appendix 4 of National schedule of reference costs 1999 to 2005.  Non-NHS providers: Appendix 5 of National schedule of reference costs 2003 to 2005. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: NHS providers in Gloucestershire: cost of termination of pregnancy 
			   Total cost () 
			 2002-03 541,418 
			 2003-04 506,792 
			 2004-05 281,861 
			  Notes: 1. Data based on returns from appropriate NHS trusts and PCTs, including Cotswold and Vale PCT, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury PCT, West Gloucestershire PCT and Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. 2. Data also relate to activity carried out for admitted patients (does not include outpatients), and exclude excess bed days. 3. We do not distinguish between trimesters in the above, therefore the above will be an average of all. 4. Figures include MFF.  Sources: NHS providers: National schedule of reference costs 1998 to 2005.

Alcohol-related Diseases

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were admitted to hospital with alcohol-related diseases in Greater London in  (a) 2002-03,  (b) 2003-04 and  (c) 2004-05.

Ivan Lewis: Data on the counts of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) and patients where there was a primary diagnosis for selected alcohol-related diseases by London Strategic Health Authority (SHA) for the years 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05 are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Counts of FCEs and patients where there was a primary diagnosis code for selected alcohol related diseases( 1)  in national health service hospitals in London SHAs 2002-03 to 2004-05 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 
			  SHA  FCEs  Patients  FCEs  Patients  FCEs  Patients 
			 North West London 1,760 1,280 1,951 1,426 2,305 1,533 
			 North Central London 1,358 897 1,386 932 1,828 1,200 
			 North East London 1,376 943 1,697 1,122 1,828 1,183 
			 South East London 2,158 1,572 2,506 1,857 3,249 2,275 
			 South West London 1,049 787 1,306 957 1,530 1,082 
			 Total London SHAs 7,701 5,428 8,846 6,228 10,740 7,145 
			 (1) Alcohol related diseases defined as following ICD-10 codes recorded in primary diagnosis: F10: Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol K70: Alcoholic liver disease T51: Toxic effect of alcohol  Notes:  Finished consultant episode (FCE): A FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.  Patient counts: Patient counts are based on the unique patient identifier hospital episode statistics identifier (HESID). This identifier is derived based on patient's date of birth, postcode, sex, local patient identifier and NHS number, using an agreed algorithm. Where data are incomplete, HESID might erroneously link episodes or fail to recognise episodes for the same patient. Care is therefore needed, especially where duplicate records persist in the data. The patient count cannot be summed across a table where patients may have episodes in more than one cell.  Diagnosis (primary diagnosis): The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the hospital episode statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.  Primary care trust (PCT) and SHA data quality: PCT and SHA data were added to historic data-years in the HES database using 2002-03 boundaries, as a one-off exercise in 2004. The quality of the data on PCT of treatment and SHA of treatment is poor in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99, with over a third of all finished episodes having missing values in these years. Data quality of PCT of general practitioner (GP) practice and SHA of GP practice in 1997-98 and 1998-99 is also poor, with a high proportion missing values where practices changed or ceased to exist. There is less change in completeness of the residence-based fields over time, where the majority of unknown values are due to missing postcodes on birth episodes. Users of time series analysis including these years need to be aware of these issues in their interpretation of the data. 5. Ungrossed data: Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data, that is the data are ungrossed.  Source:  Hospital episode statistics (HES), the Information Centre for health and social care.

Cannabis (Therapeutic Use)

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to change the status of drugs derived from cannabinoids to allow their wider legal use for pain and spasm control.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	The Home Office continues to license clinical trials aimed at developing non-smoked medicines derived from cannabis. We would seek Parliament's agreement to make any necessary changes to the law to enable the prescription of cannabis-based medicine, for the purposes of relieving pain and spasm control, but not before product approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA is responsible for evaluating the safety, quality and effectiveness of all prospective medicinal products. It is a process which is designed to protect public health.

Care Costs

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the cost of providing free  (a) personal care and  (b) long-term care for each year until 2015.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 8 June 2005,  Official Report, columns 585-86W.

Child Sexual Abuse

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what therapeutic services her Department provides for children who have suffered sexual abuse;
	(2)  what assessment her Department has made of  (a) the psychological effects of child sexual abuse and  (b) effective treatments for such effects;
	(3)  what steps her Department is taking to ensure that children who have experienced sexual abuse receive the therapeutic services they require.

Ivan Lewis: Specialist services including treatment for sexually transmitted infections, termination of pregnancy and mental health services are available for those children who need them as a result of sexual abuse. For children with less severe mental health problems, it is more appropriate for universal services to provide the psychological support they need than for them to be referred to specialist child and adolescent mental health services.
	The Department and the Mental Health Foundation jointly funded a multi-centre study to evaluate the use of psychotherapy with girls aged six to 14 years who had been sexually abused. Two of the main findings were that high rates of depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder were found and both group and individual psychotherapy were effective and improvement in the patients' condition tended to continue after treatment had ended.
	It is important that children and maternity health services (CAMHS) are developed in a way that is responsive to the needs of the populations they serve. The CAMHS standard of the children's national service framework (NSF) sets out the requirement for an assessment of the needs of particular groups of children in the locality who are vulnerable or at risk. The NSF also states the commissioners and services should be able to
	demonstrate multi-agency partnership working in the following areas: the provision of services to children and young people who may or may not have been harmed, as set out in 'Working Together to Safeguard Children', contributing to the assessment of complex child abuse cases; the assessment and provision of post-abuse therapeutic services; and services for looked after and adopted children.

Choose and Book System

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 May 2006,  Official Report, columns 63-64W on the choose and book system, what budget was set before the system was set up for adding the choose and book system to the other systems that send messages through the care record spine.

Ivan Lewis: A key element of the national health service care records service is to provide a transaction messaging capability to support the messaging requirements of all the systems supported by the spine. The cost of spine services relating to choose and book messaging is not separately identified within the contract cost of the care record spine.

Choose and Book System

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 16 May 2006,  Official Report, column 935W, on the choose and book system, 
	(1)  for how many years she expects financial incentives to GPs and GP practices to be necessary for the operation of the scheme;
	(2)  what budget has been set to fund the necessary revisions to the general medical service contract in respect of the  (a) choice and  (b) choose and book component;
	(3)  what estimate she has made of the cost in each of the next five years of providing financial incentives to GPs to use the choose and book system if all GPs were to register and employ the choice and choose and book component.

Ivan Lewis: The payments available to primary medical care contractors for utilisation of the choose and book service and for delivering choice to patients were agreed as part of the amended contractual arrangements that run from April 2006 to March 2007. Whether there is a need for payments in future years will be a matter for consideration by NHS employers in the context of their continuing review of the contractual arrangements as a whole.
	The full value of the directed enhanced service (DBS) is 96 pence per registered patient. There are approximately 53.3 million registered patients in England. Assuming that every practice in England meets the full requirements of both components of the DES, the value of the DES in 2006-07 could be just over 50 million, which is funded as a relatively small part of the growth in overall resource allocations to primary care trusts.

Choose and Book System

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 16 May 2006,  Official Report, column 935W, on the choose and book system, what estimate she has made of the administrative cost of each referral.

Ivan Lewis: No estimate has been made of the administrative cost of each referral made using the choose and book service. However, the choose and book service should reduce considerably the overall administrative burden of managing referrals.

Choose and Book System

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 16 May 2006,  Official Report, column 935W, on the choose and book system, what budget has been allocated to administer the system in 2006-07.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for individual primary care trusts and strategic health authorities.

Choose and Book System

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 16 May 2006,  Official Report, column 935W, on the choose and book system, what comprises the choice component.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the second paragraph of the reply given on 16 May 2006,  Official Report, column 935W:
	The full value of the directed enhanced service is 96p per registered patient and comprises two equal components, one for choice (48p) and one for choose and book (48p). Half of the choice component, worth 24p will be made as an aspiration payment to those general practitioner practices who make a written commitment to ensure that choice is offered to relevant patients. The remaining half, also worth 24p, will be paid based on the results of a new survey of patient experience.

Choose and Book System

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer of 16 May 2006,  Official Report, column 935W, 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the likely take up of such a scheme if financial incentives were not available for general practitioners who register and use it;
	(2)  on the choose and book system, what assessment she made of likely take-up of the choose and book system without the financial incentives available to GPs who register and use the system; and what definition of relevant patients her Department uses when assessing applications for aspiration payments.

Ivan Lewis: The Department strongly believes that both choice and choose and book deliver significant benefits to patients, and both primary and secondary care practitioners. The choice and booking direct enhanced service (DES) is designed to encourage general practitioner (GP) practices to proactively implement choice and the choose and book service in order to realise these benefits early, as opposed to GP practices adopting at their own pace. However, no specific assessment has been undertaken to determine what uptake would have been if financial incentives had not been made available.
	In the choice component of the DES, relevant patients for aspiration payments are those referred from primary care to secondary care, where a specialist's opinion is needed and the current nationally agreed guidance on choice exclusions do not apply.

Consultation Costs

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of the consultation on  (a) primary care trust,  (b) ambulance and  (c) strategic health authority restructuring.

Ivan Lewis: As the consultations were led by strategic health authorities, the cost of them was financed from local national health service allocations. These figures are not collected nationally.

Dentistry

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many dentists signed the NHS General Dental Services contract in dispute, broken down by primary care trust;
	(2)  how many dentists have signed the new NHS dental contract in England; and how many of those have done so in dispute, broken down by primary care trust.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of dentists who have signed the new contract and the number who have signed in dispute is not available centrally.
	Provisional management estimates on the number of signed contracts and, of these, the number signed in dispute has been placed in the Library. A contract may be for either a practice or an individual dentist.

Dentistry

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have left the NHS in Trent Strategic Health Authority in the last 12 months, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Rosie Winterton: At 31 March 2006, there were 1,005 dentists in the Trent Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area. The table shows the numbers of national health service dentists who have retired or otherwise left the general dental services (GDS) or personal dental services (PDS) in Trent SHA by parliamentary constituency during the 12 months ending 30 September 2005.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Trent SHA 48 
			   
			 Amber Valley 2 
			 Ashfield 7 
			 Bassetlaw 1 
			 Bolsover 1 
			 Boston and Skegness 1 
			 Broxtowe 3 
			 Chesterfield 3 
			 Derby North 2 
			 Derby South 3 
			 Erewash 1 
			 Gainsborough 0 
			 Gedling 3 
			 Grantham and Stamford 1 
			 High Peak 2 
			 Lincoln 0 
			 Louth and Horncastle 0 
			 Mansfield 2 
			 Newark 0 
			 North East Derbyshire 0 
			 Nottingham East 4 
			 Nottingham North 1 
			 Nottingham South 5 
			 Rushcliffe 0 
			 Sherwood 1 
			 Sleaford and North Hykeham 1 
			 South Derbyshire 3 
			 South Holland and The Deepings 1 
			 West Derbyshire 3 
			  Notes: 1. The latest available data cover the 12 months to 30 September 2005.  2. Leavers indicate that the dentist had an open GDS or PDS contract as at 30 September 2004 but no GDS or PDS contract as at 30 September 2005. 3. A dentist may have left a GDS or PDS contract within more than one parliamentary constituency within Trent SHA, in which case they would appear in figures for each individual constituency. 4. Data include all notifications of dentists leaving the GDS or PDS, received by the NHS Business Services Authority, up to 8 November 2005. Figures for the numbers of dentists at specified dates may vary depending upon the notification period, e.g. data with a later notification period will include more recent notifications of dentists leaving the GDS or PDS. 5. A dentist with a GDS or PDS contract may provide as little or as much NHS treatment as he or she chooses or has agreed with the primary care trust. Information concerning the amount of time dedicated to NHS work by individual GDS or PDS dentists are not centrally available. 6. Dentists consist of principals, assistants and trainees. Prison contracts have been excluded.  7. Data on dentists that work only in private practice are not held centrally.  Sources:  NHS Business Services Authority The Information Centre for health and social care

Dentistry

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer of 18 April 2006,  Official Report, column 206W, on dentistry, why the Department has stopped collecting information relating to the number of dentists accepting new patients in Chesterfield since 4 April 2005.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has not collected data on the number of dentists accepting new patients. The Department has in the past asked primary care trusts (PCTs) to provide information to the nhs.uk (web resource) and NHS Direct on which dentists are accepting new patients. The main problem with these data is that they can change at a rapid pace and therefore may not be reliable, thus making them limited in their practical use. That is why the Department has given PCTs more flexibility in deciding how they most effectively inform the local public about access to dental services. The implementation review group, which includes patient representatives, dentists and national health service organisations, has been set up to monitor the NHS dental reforms; as part of this they will be assessing the level of information that is on the website.

Dentistry

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  for what reasons a transitory maternity pay arrangement was not put in place for dentists who were pregnant but not yet on maternity leave in April 2006;
	(2)  what representations she received prior to the introduction of the new dental contract in April 2006 requesting a transitory arrangement for dentists who became pregnant while the former general dental services contract was operational.

Rosie Winterton: In England, we made transitional provisions for parental leave payments equal to the general dental services payments paid immediately before 1 April 2006 and pensionable earnings for leave periods which commenced after 1 April 2006. These are a minimum and primary care trusts may use their powers of assistance and support, under new section 28Y of the national health service 1977 Act, if they deem it appropriate to pay more.
	The arrangements for parental leave payments are set out in the Statement of Financial Entitlements, on which we consulted with the British Dental Association.

Dentistry

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1558W, on dentistry, whether a dentist who was pregnant but had not started a period of maternity leave before the new dental contract was introduced on 1 April 2006 is able to claim maternity pay at the levels prescribed in the former general dental services contract.

Rosie Winterton: For a dentist in England who starts a period of maternity leave after 1 April 2006, the amount to which they are entitled in respect of parental leave payments is calculated on the basis of their estimated monthly pensionable earnings immediately before the parental leave is taken.

Departmental Expenditure

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost was of  (a) staff away days and  (b) staff team building exercises in her Department in each of the last three years.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally. Obtaining the data would incur disproportionate costs.

Departmental Expenditure

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff from her Department attended the Civil Service Islamic Society Eid-Ul-Adha in London in 2005; and what the total cost was to her Department of their attendance.

Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will write to the hon. Member with details of the Civil Service Islamic Society Eid-Ul-Adha event. Copies of her letter will be placed in the Library.

Departmental Staff

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) women and  (b) men are employed in the Department; what the average pay was for (i) women and (ii) men in the Department in (1) 1997 and (2) 2006; what women's average pay is as a percentage of men's average pay; and how many (A) women and (B) men the Department employed in each of the last five years, broken down by grade.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the tables.
	
		
			  Women and men employed by the Department 
			  Grade  Male  Female 
			 Administrative officer (A0)/administrative assistant (AA) 63.0 138.0 
			 Executive officer (EO) 145.4 311.4 
			 Senior executive officer (SEO)/higher executive officer (HEO) 334.1 373.8 
			 Grades 6/7 336.0 311.8 
			 Senior civil servant (SCS) level 132.3 92.1 
			 Total 1,010.8 1,227.1 
		
	
	
		
			  Average basic pay 
			   
			   1997  2006 
			 Women  37,792 
			 Men  43,760 
			 Percentage women's pay of men's  86.4 
			  Note:  Information for 1997 is not available. 
		
	
	
		
			  Women and men employed by the Department, 2002 to 2006 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Grade  Male  Female  Male  Female  Male  Female  Male  Female  Male  Female 
			 SCS level   170.4 105.7 164.6 105.7 145.5 92.8 132.3 92.1 
			 Grades 6/7   390.0 347.4 330.8 307.2 282.0 273.9 336.0 311.8 
			 SEO/HE level   478.3 489.5 420.5 461.8 348.4 368.8 334.1 373.8 
			 EO level   211.8 480.2 181.4 428.0 151.1 306.5 145.4 311.4 
			 AO/AA level   169.3 406.7 147.4 298.8 84.8 190.5 63.0 138.0 
			 Unknown   0 0 0 0 3.9 4.0 0 0 
			  Note: Information for 2002 is not available.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of her private office staff is  (a) male,  (b) female and  (c) disabled.

Ivan Lewis: In the six ministerial private offices, 37.5 per cent. of the staff are male and 62.5 per cent. are female. The declaration of disability is voluntary and no current staff have declared a disability.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the staff in her Department is  (a) male,  (b) female and  (c) disabled, broken down by grade.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Responsibility level  Male  Female  Declared disabled 
			 SCS Level 59 41 6 
			 Grade 6/7 52 48 4 
			 SEO/HEO 47 53 5 
			 EO 32 68 8 
			 AO/AA 31 69 11 
			 Total 45 55 6 
			  Note: Proportions for disabled are based on staff whose disability status is known.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what incentives her Department offers to encourage staff to share vehicles when travelling to work.

Ivan Lewis: The promotion of car-sharing depends upon the circumstances of the employee sitethe majority of departmental staff work in central London and, as such, very few employees drive to work.
	Car-sharing is only one of a number of measures which organisations can include in their workplace travel plan to encourage staff to travel more sustainably. The Department promotes the use of public transport by offering interest-free season ticket loans. Loans are also available to purchase bicycles, and departmental buildings offer secure cycle parking and showers.

East Lancashire Hospital Trust

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether undertakings were given at the time that the East Lancashire Hospital Trust was formed regarding the future location of accident and emergency services; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: No undertakings were given at the time that the East Lancashire Hospitals National Health Service Trust was formed regarding the future location of the accident and emergency services. The services available at the hospitals managed by the trust need to be agreed locally. A consultation exercise is currently underway following the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust review of clinical services.

English Patients (Devolved Administrations)

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients from England were treated in hospitals in  (a) Wales and  (b) Scotland in each of the last three years.

Andy Burnham: The Department does not hold this information. The information may be available from the devolved Administrations.

Foundation Trusts

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions she has had with Monitor on financial deficits in foundation trusts; what the content of those discussions were; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: I am advised by the chairman of Monitor, whose statutory name is the Independent Regulator of NHS foundation trusts, that national health service foundation trusts delivered an encouraging financial performance in the 2005-06 financial year.
	Monitor published on 5 June its full-year update on the unaudited financial performance of NHS foundation trusts, which is publicly available on its website (www.monitor-nhsft.gov.uk). The chairman of Monitor has advised me that, in aggregate, the 32 NHS foundation trusts in operation during the 2005-06 financial year made a deficit of 24 million on a turnover of 6.8 billion. This figure includes the substantial deficit incurred by University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH).
	Excluding the performance of UCLH, which made a 35.9 million deficit and is implementing a financial recovery plan that will return it to break-even by 2007-08, the remaining 31 NHS foundation trusts generated a 12 million surplus.
	Monitor attributes the strong performance of the NHS foundation trust sector principally to the rigours of foundation status.

Gershon Report

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many civil servants were employed in her Department before the Gershon Report; what net reductions are proposed in the Gershon Report; how many reductions have been made; and how many civil servants are expected to be employed in her Department in the Gershon target month of April 2008.

Ivan Lewis: The Gershon Report, confirmed by the 2004 Spending Review, set the Department a target net reduction of 720 in its number of full-time equivalent (FTE) posts. As the Department had already embarked on its change programme, it was agreed that reductions made since the programme was announced in March 2003 would be included and the 720 target was calculated and agreed on this basis. The baseline level of staffing was therefore the 3,645 FTE posts that had previously been budgeted for in 2003-04. The Change Programme anticipated an eventual staffing level of 2,245 FTE posts, a reduction of 1,400 FTE posts. This consisted of the 720 Gershon target and a further 680 to be achieved through the transfer of work to other organisations.
	As at 31 March 2006, the Department's staffing was 2,387 FTE (this may not correspond with other published figures because of the way secondments into and out of the Department are counted). This represented a reduction of 1,258 FTE from the baseline of 3,645 FTE, and consisted of a 635 net reduction and 623 transfers to other organisations. The Department is therefore well on the way to meeting its April 2008 targets in terms of both net reductions and transfers.

Health Treatment Centres

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2006,  Official Report, columns 937-38W, on health treatment centres, what cost has been met by her Department for commissioning procedures from independent sector treatment centres that is in excess of the NHS equivalent  (a) in total and  (b) broken down by primary care trust; and how much the NHS has paid in total to independent sector treatment centres.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is commercially sensitive and could impact upon the Department's ability to obtain best value from phase two of the independent sector procurement.

Health White Paper

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2006,  Official Report, column 1821W, to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley) on the Health White Paper, when she expects to publish the conclusions of the review announced in paragraph 3.34 of the Health White Paper and referred to in the answer;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2006,  Official Report, column 452W, on the Health White Paper, when she expects the review of NHS walk-in centre funding arrangements to report; and when she expects to publish it.

Ivan Lewis: The matters are still under consideration.

Hospital Negligence Cases

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital negligence cases have been  (a) filed and  (b) upheld in each of the last five years, broken down by hospital.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is not collected by hospital. However, the information is available by national health service organisation which has been placed in the Library.

Hospital Travel Costs

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the cost to a hospital trust of reimbursing the travel costs of patients eligible under the hospital travel costs scheme is  (a) included in the reference cost or national tariff payment to the hospital trust and  (b) forms an additional cost which may be invoiced to the patient's primary care trust; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: Where the service provided to a patient falls within the scope of payment by results the national tariff applicable to that service includes an element in respect of the hospital travel costs scheme (HTCS) and hospital trusts should not receive additional funding from primary care trusts (PCTs) in respect of that patient. Where the service is outside the scope of payment by results the trust will need to recover its outlay in respect of HTCS from the PCT in the normal way.

ISTCs

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) name and  (b) location is of (i) each of the independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs) which were established at part of the first wave of the ISTC programme and (ii) each ISTC which is planned in the second wave; and if she will make a statement on the progress of the programme.

Ivan Lewis: The names and addresses of the fully operational wave one independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs) are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Independent sector treatment centre  Address 
			  GC4 spine chain  
			 East Cornwall, Bodmin NHS Treatment Centre Bodmin, Cornwall, PL31 2QT 
			 East Lincolnshire, Boston NHS Treatment Centre Boston West Business Park, Sleaford Road, Boston, PE21 8EG 
			 West Lincolnshire, Gainsborough NHS Treatment Centre Ropery Road, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 2TJ 
			 North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, Clifton NHS Treatment Centre Bluebeck Drive, Shipton Road, York, YO30 5RA 
			 Northumberland Tyne and Wear, Cobalt NHS Treatment Centre The Silverlink North, Cobalt Business Park, North Tyneside NE27 0BY 
			 Southampton, Capio New Hall Hospital NHS Treatment Centre Bodenham, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 4EY 
			 Thames Valley, Woodland Hospital NHS Treatment Centre (interim site) Rothwell Road, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN16 8XF 
			 Thames Valley, Reading NHS Treatment Centre Swallows Croft, Reading, RG1 6UZ, 
			   
			  GC5 west chain  
			 Kidderminster, Kidderminster Treatment Centre Bewdley Road, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, DY11 6RJ 
			   
			  GC8 chain  
			 Portsmouth, St. Mary's NHS Treatment Centre Milton Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, P03 GAD 
			 Medway, Will Adams NHS Treatment Centre Beechings Way, Gillingham, Kent ME8 GAD 
			 Wycombe, Mid and South Buckinghamshire NHS Diagnostic Centre (diagnostic services only) Unit 2, The Merlin Centre, Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe HP12 3QL 
			   
			  Local projects  
			 Bradford, Eccleshill NHS Treatment Centre 45 Harrogate Road. Eccleshill Bradford BD10 0JE 
			 Trent, Barlborough NHS Treatment Centre 2 Lindrick Way, Barlborough, Chesterfield, S45 4XE 
			 Shepton Mallet, Shepton Mallet NHS Treatment Centre St. Peters Road, Shepton, BA4 4PG 
			 Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Surgical Centre Bowers Avenue, Davyhulme, Manchester, M41 SSL 
			 Plymouth, Peninsula NHS Treatment Centre Building 3, Derriford Business Park, Plymouth, PL6 5QZ 
			   
			  OC123 ophthalmology chain  
			 Mobile Cataract Unit n/a 
		
	
	Phase two of the ISTC procurement is in progress. Invitations to negotiate (ITNs) have been issued for 12 schemes for electives procedures in the following areas:
	Northumberland, Tyne and Wear;
	Cumbria and Lancashire (two schemes);
	Cheshire and Merseyside;
	Essex;
	West Midland South;
	Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire;
	Greater Manchester (two schemes);
	South London;
	Hampshire and Isle of Wight; and
	Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
	We expect a further tranche of ITNs to be issued in the summer.
	Negotiations are also under way with bidders on seven regional diagnostics schemes. These are in the following areas:
	London;
	the North East;
	the West Midlands;
	the North West;
	the South East;
	the South West; and
	the East.
	By the end of 2005, patients had benefited from over 250,000 procedures centrally procured from the independent sector including those from ISTCs, the general supplementary contract and the magnetic resonance imaging contract. ISTCs are now firmly part of the national health service family, delivering NHS services to NHS patients. Phase two of the programme is currently underway which will further increase NHS capacity, reduce waits for treatment and diagnostic tests, and increase patient choice.

Leased Land

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) land and  (b) property her Department (i) leases and (ii) leased in (A) 1979, (B) 1983, (C) 1987, (D) 1992 and (E) 1997 in (1) the Southend West constituency, (2) Essex, (3) Hertfordshire and (4) the Metropolitan Police area of London.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not hold any land.
	The Department does not have details of leases prior to 1996.
	In 1997 the leases held were as follows:
	
		
			   Land/property 
			 Southend West Constituency None held 
			   
			 Essex St. Charles School, Weald Road, Brentwood, Essex CM 14 4SN 
			   
			 Hertfordshire None held 
			   
			 Metropolitan Police area of London Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LH 
			  Hannibal House, London SE1 6TE 
			  Health Control Unit, Waterloo, International Terminal, London SE1 
			  Eileen House, Newington Causeway, London SE1 6EF 
			  40 Eastbourne Terrace, London W2 3QR 
			  Market Towers, 1 Nine Elms Lane, London SW8 5NQ

Marfan Syndrome

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from  (a) medical staff and  (b) others regarding provision for people with Marfan syndrome.

Ivan Lewis: I am not aware of receiving any recent representations regarding the provision of health and social care for those living with Marfan syndrome.

Mental Health (Barnet)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on funding for mental health services in Barnet.

Ivan Lewis: The resources that are necessary to deliver mental health services are included in the unified allocations made directly to primary care trusts (PCTs). It is for PCTs in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use these resources to deliver services in line with their assessment of local need.

Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the potential risks to public health associated with the use of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether as an additive in gasoline;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of whether Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether presents a greater risk to public health than alternative gasoline additives.

Caroline Flint: The Department has not undertaken a formal comparison of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) with other fuel additives. However MTBE has been assessed separately.
	The Department's committee on the medical effects of air pollutants (COMEAP) published a statement on the air quality and health implications of MTBE in September 2000(1). This concluded that
	The addition of MTBE to petrol is unlikely to increase significantly the health risks associated with exposure to ambient air in the UK.
	This conclusion was very similar to that of a major review of the potential health effects of oxygenates, including MTBE, carried out by the Health Effects Institute in 1996 in the United States of America (USA). This concluded that 'it is unlikely that fuel containing oxygenates would substantially increase the overall health risk from fuel used in motor vehicles' (levels of MTBE use in the USA are higher than in the United Kingdom).
	MTBE has also been evaluated under the existing substances regulations(2). This concluded that risks to consumers were not expected as risk reduction measures already being applied are considered sufficient. There were concerns for the potability of drinking water in respect of taste and odour as a consequence of leakage from underground storage tanks and actions to reduce this were recommended. Recommendations were also made to reduce repeated dose local skin effects in workers involved in maintenance operations and automotive repair.
	(1) www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/comeap/statementsreports/mtbe.htm
	(2) Official Journal of the European Communities, Commission Recommendation, 7 November 2001.

Midwifery

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent studies she has carried out into independent midwife-led birth units, with particular reference to care for mothers with learning disabilities;
	(2)  what research she has evaluated on the effects of a normal birth with minimal interventions on the incidence of post-natal depression; and what recent assessment she has made of the comparative rates of normal births in different settings;
	(3)  what opportunities there are to increase choice in maternity provision, with particular reference to midwife-led units in acute hospital settings;
	(4)  what recent studies she has carried out into the impact on  (a) ante-natal and  (b) post natal care of closing independent midwife units;
	(5)  what support the National Service Framework offers midwife-led maternity units;
	(6)  what research the Department  (a) is undertaking and  (b) has commissioned into (i) the effects of maternity provision being placed in the community and (ii) the merits of midwife-led units outside district general hospitals.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has not carried out studies that cover birth settings or their effectiveness on specific client groups or the impact of their closure on antenatal and postnatal care. However, in a survey of patients conducted on behalf of the Department(1), asking for a preference as to where the next delivery would take place, 36.9 per cent. wanted to give birth outside a hospital setting (home13.1 per cent., midwife unit20.4 per cent., general practitioner unit3.4 per cent.).
	Through the service delivery and organisation research and development programme, the Department has commissioned a three-year study, 'An Evaluation of Maternity Units in England', about the effectiveness, acceptability and efficiency of maternity units. We expect to be able to make an announcement about the award of the contract shortly.
	The maternity standard of the national service framework for children, young people and maternity services is quite clear that maternity services should be designed, reviewed and improved through a programme of consultation with users and that the full range of choices of types of birth, antenatal and postnatal care, and birth environment should be offered. It also advocates that local options for midwife-led care will include midwife-led units in the community. Ultimately, it is for local health communities to decide on the best pattern of service provision, taking into account the needs of local people, evidence of effectiveness and available resources.
	We have made commitments in the 2005 manifesto and in the White Paper 'Our Health, Our Care, Our Say' which was published in January 2006, to offer all women a choice over where and how they have their baby, including in hospital, a midwifery-led unit and at homethis will be in place by 2009.
	(1 )Different models of maternity care: an evaluation of the roles of primary health care workers, Hewison J, Renfrew MJ, Gregson B, Young, G, Braunholtz D, Dowswell T, Hirst J, Ross-McGill H, 2003.

Midwifery

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 18 May 2006 to the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Janet Anderson),  Official Report, column 1173W, on midwives, if she will publish the results of the assessment on its completion;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the minimum number of midwives needed in England to enable all women a choice as to where and how to have their baby, broken down by  (a) strategic health authority and  (b) primary care trust; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: A maternity services outline delivery plan is being developed, which will set out a single vision for choice in maternity services, identify risks and management strategies and also set out the strategy for delivery including performance management arrangements, governance structures nationally, stakeholder engagement and the communication plan to support delivery. This is due to be published in autumn 2006.
	Local national health service organisations are responsible for developing maternity services in response to the needs of their local population, and for ensuring that they have sufficient staff, with the right skills, to offer appropriate choices.

Milk Tokens

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many milk tokens were issued  (a) to pregnant women and  (b) to mothers for children in each month from January 2005.

Caroline Flint: The volume of milk tokens issued since January 2005 is summarised in the following table. These numbers do not include Healthy Start vouchers issued in Devon and Cornwall since the introduction of Healthy Start in November 2005.
	
		
			  Milk tokens volumes since January 2005 
			   Pregnant only( 1)  Pregnant + child/children( 2)  Child/children only  Total 
			 January 2005 16,350 10,323 693,682 720,355 
			 February 2005 15,392 10,331 698,243 723,966 
			 March 2005 14,739 9,672 700,975 725,386 
			 April 2005 14,076 8,735 700,566 723,377 
			 May 2005 13,626 7,607 701,949 723,182 
			 June 2005 14,255 6,715 705,254 726,224 
			 July 2005(3) 13,932 5,557 702,782 722,271 
			 July 2005(3) 13,947 4,688 701,271 719,906 
			 August 2005 14,258 4,334 701,524 720,116 
			 September 2005 14,900 4,734 701,664 721,298 
			 October 2005 15,883 5,446 704,854 726,183 
			 November 2005 16,145 5,740 687,289 709,174 
			 December 2005 16,435 5,960 684,736 707,131 
			 January 2006 15,853 5,968 690,624 712,445 
			 February 2006 16,271 6,325 695,404 718,000 
			 March 2006 16,967 6,767 696,628 720,362 
			 April 2006 17,475 7,155 700,584 725,214 
			 May 2006 18,120 7,426 700,299 725,845 
			 (1) Pregnant onlypregnant women who are eligible for milk tokens. (2) Pregnant + child/childrenpregnant women who have one or more children for whom they receive milk tokens. (3) Milk tokens are issued on a four-week cycle where the month of July has had two cycles.

Ministerial Visits

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many official visits to hospitals  (a) she has and  (b) her ministerial team have made during the night since 1 May 2005.

Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health carried out night visits to Ipswich Hospital on 31 May 2005 and to the Greater Manchester Ambulance Service on 3 April 2006. Former Minister of State for Health (Jane Kennedy) visited North East Ambulance Service on the night of 14 September 2005. Lord Warner visited London Ambulance Service and Kings College Hospital on the night of 22 November 2005.

NHS Data

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what duty is placed on primary care trusts to ensure that data submitted to the website www.nhs.uk regarding  (a) dentists accepting NHS patients and  (b) other information are kept up to date; how often these data are updated; and whether NHS Direct actively monitors these data to ensure their accuracy.

Rosie Winterton: It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to decide how most effectively to provide information to the public and to agree any local arrangements with nhs.uk and NHS Direct.
	NHS Direct holds some information on the open and closed status of dental practices but the accuracy of the information is dependent on dentists notifying PCTs of any changes, and PCTs updating the information on nhs.uk.
	As a result of feedback from user groups, and following the introduction of the local commissioning of national health service dentistry in April 2006, the information held by nhs.uk (and by extension NHS Direct, as they use the same database) is currently being updated by PCT web editors. Additional information, including best possible information on how patients can get routine, urgent in-hours and urgent out-of-hours care or advice is being added by PCTs to the new format site. The expected date for these changes to go live on nhs.uk is the last week of June 2006.

NHS Direct

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how NHS Direct as an NHS Foundation Trust would be accountable to local communities;
	(2)  whether NHS Direct as an NHS Foundation Trust would remain subject to ministerial control;
	(3)  whether NHS Direct as an NHS Foundation Trust would be able to outsource its call centres abroad.

Rosie Winterton: We are developing plans for NHS Direct to become a national health service trust from April 2007 with the aim of becoming an NHS Foundation Trust (NHSFT) thereafter. NHS Direct is in the very early stages of considering its application for foundation trust status, including appropriate ways to ensure it can demonstrate that it is accountable to local communities, as other foundation trusts have done.
	Legislative provisions establish NHSFTs as independent public benefit corporations, free from Secretary of State powers of direction.
	As a NHSFT, NHS Direct will continue to plan delivery of its services in the most effective way. There are no plans to transfer its services abroad.

NHS Staff

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the net change has been in the numbers of  (a) doctors,  (b) nurses,  (c) midwives,  (d) physiotherapists and  (e) cleaners in each London strategic health authority area since 1996; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The net change in the numbers of doctors, nurses, midwives, and physiotherapists in each London strategic health authority (SHA) area since 1996 is shown in the following tables.
	The Department does not collect separate data for the number of cleaners. These are included in the figures for hotel, property and estates support staff.
	
		
			  Specified national health service staff in the London Government office region (GOR) by SHA area as at 30 September each specified year: Doctors 
			  Headcount and percentage headcount 
			1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001 
			  London GOR total
			 All doctors  16,699 17,107 17,374 17,846 18,557 19,048 
			 Hospital and community staff (HCHS)  12,177 12,575 12,859 13,350 14,009 14,503 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(2)  4,522 4,532 4,515 4,496 4,548 4,545 
			 
			  North West London Q04   
			 All doctors  4,147 4,422 4,209 4,273 4,694 4,730 
			 HCHS doctors(1)  3,010 3,213 3,021 3,139 3,569 3,580 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(2)  1,137 1,209 1,188 1,134 1,125 1,150 
			 
			  North Central London Q05   
			 All doctors  3,612 3,680 3,754 3,866 3,933 3,935 
			 HCHS doctors(1)  2,796 2,892 2,952 3,080 3,114 3,131 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(2)  816 788 802 786 819 804 
			 
			  North East London Q06   
			 All doctors  2,762 2,801 2,923 3,019 3,101 3,281 
			 HCHS doctors(1)  1,878 1,913 2,027 2,125 2,176 2,382 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(2)  884 888 896 894 925 899 
			 
			  South East London Q07   
			 All doctors  3,552 3,663 3,904 3,838 3,925 4,279 
			 HCHS doctors(1)  2,666 2,795 3,042 2,937 3,039 3,375 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(2)  886 868 862 901 886 904 
			 
			  South West London Q08 2,625 2,541 2,584 2,850 2,904 2,823 
			 HCHS doctors(1)  1,827 1,762 1,817 2,069 2,111 2,035 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(2)  798 779 767 781 793 788 
		
	
	
		
			  Headcount and percentage headcount 
			2002  2003  2004  2005  Change  1996-2005  Percentage 1996-2005 
			  London GOR total
			 All doctors  19,872 21,013 22,901 24,034 7,335 43.9 
			 Hospital and community staff (HCHS)  15,263 16,134 17,827 18,814 6,637 54.5 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(2)  4,609 4,879 5,074 5,220 698 15.4 
			 
			  North West London Q04   
			 All doctors  4,907 5,143 5,494 5,625 1,478 35.6 
			 HCHS doctors(1)  3,768 3,967 4,262 4,382 1,372 45.6 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(2)  1,139 1,176 1,232 1,243 106 9.3 
			  North Central London Q05   
			 All doctors  4,120 4,558 4,957 5,315 1,703 47.1 
			 HCHS doctors(1)  3,314 3,708 4,093 4,396 1,600 57.2 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(2)  806 850 864 919 103 12.6 
			 
			  North East London Q06   
			 All doctors  3,445 3,558 3,847 4,085 1,323 47.9 
			 HCHS doctors(1)  2,500 2,572 2,871 3,073 1,195 63.6 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(2)  945 986 976 1,012 128 14.5 
			 
			  South East London Q07   
			 All doctors  4,343 4,514 5,045 5,274 1,722 48.5 
			 HCHS doctors(1)  3,441 3,535 3,982 4,187 1,521 57.1 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(2)  902 979 1,063 1,087 201 22.7 
			  South West London Q08   
			 All doctors  3,057 3,240 3,558 3,735 1,110 42.3 
			 HCHS doctors(1)  2,240 2,352 2,619 2,776 949 51.9 
			 General medical practitioners (excluding retainers)(2)  817 888 939 959 161 20.1 
		
	
	
		
			  Qualified nurses including practice nurses and midwives 
			  Headcount and percentage headcount 
			1996 ( 3, 4)  1997  1998( 5)  1999( 5)  2000  2001 
			  London GOR total  51,580 51,980 52,700 54,302 54,600 58,000 
			 North Central London Q05 11,289 11,055 11,076 11,023 11,379 12,107 
			 North East London Q06 9,259 9,247 9,157 9,160 8,869 9,604 
			 North West London Q04 12,348 12,602 13,034 13,802 13,404 15,193 
			 South East London Q07 10,522 10,845 11,583 11,041 11,681 12,122 
			 South West London Q08 8,162 8,231 7,849 9,276 9,267 8,974 
		
	
	
		
			  Headcount and percentage headcount 
			2002  2003  2004  2005  Change 1996-2005  Percentage change 1996-2005 
			  London GOR total  60,638 66,185 68,239 69,102 17,522 34.0 
			 North Central London Q05 12,157 12,998 13,505 13,316 2,027 18.0 
			 North East London Q06 9,963 12,195 12,706 13,023 3,764 40.7 
			 North West London Q04 15,854 16,317 16,509 16,708 4,360 35.3 
			 South East London Q07 13,431 14,440 14,784 15,460 4,938 46.9 
			 South West London Q08 9,233 10,235 10,735 10,595 2,433 29.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Qualified midwives 
			  Headcount and percentage headcount 
			1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001 
			  London GOR total  3,243 3,370 3,406 3,581 3,399 3,526 
			 North Central London Q05 469 535 529 541 528 552 
			 North East London Q06 746 753 111 763 691 744 
			 North West London Q04 775 774 780 832 884 890 
			 South East London Q07 673 721 817 692 666 724 
			 South West London Q08 580 587 503 753 630 616 
		
	
	
		
			  Headcount and percentage headcount 
			2002  2003  2004  2005  1996-2005  1996-2005 
			  London GOR total  3,601 3,981 3,950 4,338 1,095 33.8 
			 North Central London Q05 628 638 689 739 270 57.6 
			 North East London Q06 724 871 927 916 170 22.8 
			 North West London Q04 842 842 844 1,001 226 29.2 
			 South East London Q07 769 988 861 1,003 330 49.0 
			 South West London Q08 638 642 629 679 99 17.1 
		
	
	
		
			  Qualified physiotherapy staff 
			  Headcount and percentage headcount 
			1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001 
			 London GOR total  1,989 1,985 2,071 2,179 2,296 2,317 
			 North Central London Q05 426 443 431 453 459 476 
			 North East London Q06 337 318 334 352 366 346 
			 North West London Q04 468 492 491 505 568 556 
			 South East London Q07 396 394 427 431 440 457 
			 South West London Q08 362 338 388 438 463 482 
		
	
	
		
			2002  2003  2004  2005  1996-2005  1996-2005 
			 London GOR total  2,328 2,486 2,630 2,847 858 43.1 
			 North Central London Q05 471 510 524 566 140 32.9 
			 North East London Q06 390 421 464 516 179 53.1 
			 North West London Q04 565 597 614 672 204 43.6 
			 South East London Q07 491 516 553 585 189 47.7 
			 South West London Q08 411 442 475 508 146 40.3 
		
	
	
		
			  Hotel, property and estates support staff 
			  Headcount and percentage headcount 
			1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001 
			  London GOR total6  4,651 4,378 3,727 3,777 3,431 3,470 
			 North Central London Q05 953 1,027 721 766 804 720 
			 North East London Q06 782 624 595 769 709 750 
			 North West London Q04 432 434 443 327 395 405 
			 South East London Q07 1,701 1,540 1,462 1,380 1,023 1,044 
			 South West London Q08 740 714 471 509 495 547 
		
	
	
		
			  Headcount and percentage headcount 
			2002  2003  2004  2005  Change 1996-2005  Percentage change 1996-2005 
			  London GOR total( 6)  3,393 3,576 3,907 4,071 -580 -12.5 
			 North Central London Q05 755 808 1,010 1,048 95 10.0 
			 North East London Q06 786 854 898 1,106 324 41.4 
			 North West London Q04 353 402 466 463 31 7.2 
			 South East London Q07 1,002 1,032 1,034 1,024 -677 -39.8 
			 South West London Q08 497 480 499 428 -312 -42.2 
			 (1) Excludes medical hospital practitioners and medical clinical assistants, most of whom are general practitioners (GPs) working part time in hospitals. (2) General medical practitioners (excluding retainers) includes contracted GPs, GMS others, PMS others and GP registrars. Prior to September 2004 this group included CMS unrestricted principals, personal medical services (PMS) contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other, flexible career scheme GPs and GP (3) Practice nurse data as at October 1996. (4) Includes estimated data for Buckinghamshire. (5) Headcount practice nurse figures are estimated for these years. (6) London GOR includes a small number of staff from the London Ambulance Service who cannot be attributed to a specific strategic health authority area.  Notes: GP retainers were first collected in 1999 and have been omitted for comparability purposes. All data as at 30 September except GP data for 1996-1999 as at 1 October.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care non-medical workforce census. The Information Centre for health and social care general and personal medical services statistics. The Information Centre for health and social care medical and dental workforce census.

Nurses

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses are employed by NHS Direct in  (a) England and  (b) the North West region; and if she will estimate how many nurses will be employed by NHS Direct in (i) England and (ii) the North West region in April 2007.

Rosie Winterton: As at 30 September 2005, the most recent centrally collected information available, there were 1,909 qualified non-medical nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff employed by NHS Direct in England. Regional information is not collected centrally but may be available from the Chairman of NHS Direct Special Health Authority.
	NHS Direct began a 12-week consultation period with staff and staff side representatives on 16 May 2006 on proposals to ensure that its organisational structure, estates and staffing are fit for purpose to meet future developments and demand. The consultation period is due to end on 16 August 2006. The outcomes of the consultation will be made public thereafter.

OFT Annual Plan

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who is responsible for progress on each of the objectives set out on pages nine to 21 of the Office of Fair Trading Annual Plan 2006-07; to whom each person reports; what recent discussions he has had about implementation of each objective; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Government's response to the recommendations made by the Committee of Public Accounts in their Nineteenth Report Tackling Cancer: improving the patient journey (HC 790) was made in Treasury Minutes on the Eighteenth to Twenty-first Reports from the Committee of Public Accounts 2005-06.
	The Treasury Minutes detail on-going actions and discussions in response to the recommendations made in HC 790. Sir Ian Carruthers, as the acting Permanent Secretary and Accounting Officer, is responsible for progress on the actions set out in that response.

Obesity

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the likely cost to the NHS of the consequences of childhood obesity in the next 20 years.

Caroline Flint: The joint report from the Audit Commission, Healthcare Commission and the National Audit Office (NAO) published in 2006 estimated that, at present, the direct cost to the NHS is 1 billion a year and the indirect cost to United Kingdom the economy is a further 2.3 to 2.6 billion. Furthermore, it estimated that should the present trend continue, the annual cost to the economy could be 3.6 billion a year by 2010.
	The Health Select Committee revisited the NAO figures in 2004, and they estimated the overall cost for overweight and obesity to be nearer 6.6 to 7.4 billion per year.

Obesity

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate her Department has made of the percentage of  (a) adults and  (b) children who are (i) obese, (ii) overweight and (iii) underweight in (A) each region in England and (B) the Tees Valley.

Caroline Flint: The main source of data on the prevalence of obesity is the Health Survey for England (HSE). The data is not available in the format requested. However tables 1 to 4 provides the most comparable data.
	
		
			  Table 1: Age-standardised overweight and obesity prevalence among adults aged 16 and over, by Government office region and sex, England 2003 
			  Percentage 
			   North East  North West  Yorkshire and the Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands  East England  London  South East  South West  England 
			  Male   
			 Obese 21.5 23.0 24.6 22.8 22.5 23.6 17.8 18.9 21.2 22.2 
			 Overweight including obese 62.0 63.7 65.3 67.6 65.2 66.0 58.6 62.4 65.5 65.4 
			  Female   
			 Obese 24.9 23.8 23.8 23.3 28.8 23.5 20.7 18.5 20.1 23.0 
			 Overweight including obese 59.7 58.8 55.0 56.3 60.2 55.4 49.0 49.5 53.5 55.5 
			
			  Bases (weighted)   
			 Men 339 878 634 591 676 755 930 1052 663 6519 
			 Women 376 901 650 582 696 735 876 1071 683 6570 
			  Source: Health Survey for England 2003. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Overweight and obesity prevalence among adults aged 16 and over, by sex, England 2004 
			   Percentage 
			  Male  
			 Underweight 1 
			 Overweight 44 
			 Obese 23 
			 Overweight including obese 67 
			   
			  Female  
			 Underweight 2 
			 Overweight 34 
			 Obese 23 
			 Overweight including obese 57 
			   
			  Bases (weighted)  
			 Males 39244 
			 Females 39803 
			  Source: Health Survey for England 2004. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Age-standardised overweight and obesity prevalence( 1)  among children aged 2-15, by Government office region and sex, England 2001-02 
			  Percentage 
			   North East  North West  Yorkshire and the Humber  East Midlands  West Midlands  East England  London  South East  South West  England 
			  Boys   
			 Overweight 17.1 15.8 14.8 16.8 16.1 15.7 19.4 14.9 16.9 16.3 
			 Obese 7.6 4.4 4.1 6.1 5.9 6.6 7.1 4.5 4.5 5.5 
			 Overweight including obese 24.8 20.2 18.8 22.9 22.0 22.2 26.5 19.4 21.5 21.7 
			
			  Girls   
			 Overweight 23.5 19.6 22.9 21.8 20.6 24.3 18.5 22.8 19.6 21.4 
			 Obese 10.6 9.7 12.3 15.1 17.3 13.0 9.3 8.8 12.7 11.7 
			 Overweight including obese 34.2 29.3 35.3 36.8 37.9 37.3 27.7 31.5 32.2 33.1 
			
			  Bases (weighted)   
			 Boys 362 783 589 519 574 597 631 845 542 5442 
			 Girls 327 753 569 490 582 621 672 833 541 5389 
			 (1) International classification for children.  Source: Health Survey for England 2002. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: Overweight and obesity prevalence among children aged 2-15 by sex, England 2004 
			   Percentage 
			  Boys  
			 Overweight 13.9 
			 Obese 19.2 
			 Overweight including obese 33.0 
			   
			  Girls 16.6 
			 Overweight 18.5 
			 Obese 35.1 
			 Overweight including obese  
			   
			  Bases (weighted)  
			 Boys 8833 
			 Girls 8228 
			  Source: Health Survey for England 2004.

Obesity

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rates of  (a) overweight and  (b) obese (i) children  (A) under 11 years and  (B) aged between 11 and 18 years and (ii) adults were in England, broken down by (1) strategic health authority and (2) primary care trust area in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: The main source of data on the prevalence of obesity is the Health Survey for England (HSE). The data is not available in the format requested. However, tables one to four provides the most comparable data.
	
		
			  Table 1: Prevalence of overweight and obesity among children aged 2-10 by sex, England 1997-2004 
			  Percentage 
			   Unweighted  Weighted 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2003  2004 
			  Boys   
			 Overweight 13.1 14.6 14.1 13.6 15.6 13.3 14.7 14.2 14.6 14.6 
			 Obese 11.1 11.4 16.1 12.2 13.5 15.2 14.9 16.2 15.1 15.9 
			
			  Girls   
			 Overweight 12.0 12.5 13.5 11.6 14.0 13.1 13.4 14.2 13.4 14.8 
			 Obese 10.7 11.8 13.0 11.8 12.7 15.8 12.5 11.9 12.4 12.8 
			
			  Bases   
			 Boys 2,007 1,336 633 570 1,035 2,364 876 416 878 5,368 
			 Girls 2,082 1,216 628 523 1,094 2,290 897 343 858 4,901 
			  Notes: From 2003 data are weighted for non response. Data weighted for child selection only are provided for consistency with previous years.  Source: Health Survey for England 2004updating of trend tables to include 2004 data, The Information Centre For Health and Social Care. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Prevalence of overweight and obesity among children aged 11-15 by sex, England 1997-2004 
			  Percentage 
			   Unweighted  Weighted 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2003  2004 
			 Overweight 12.7 14.7 14.9 10.0 14.1 14.4 14.4 12.8 14.5 12.8 
			 Obese 15.6 16.3 16.9 18.8 18.8 19.8 20.4 23.7 20.0 24.2 
			  Girls   
			 Overweight 15.4 15.7 13.7 14.4 17.5 15.1 16.0 19.4 16.4 19.3 
			 Obese 16.2 17.5 15.2 18.1 17.7 19.2 21.9 26.2 22.1 26.7 
			
			  Bases   
			 Boys 1,056 645 343 306 618 1,381 533 230 574 3,466 
			 Girls 987 656 322 318 605 1,346 547 236 535 3,328 
			  Boys   
			  Notes: From 2003 data are weighted for non response. Data weighted for child selection only are provided for consistency with previous years.  Source: Health Survey for England 2004updating of trend tables to include 2004 data, The Information Centre For Health and Social Care. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Age standardised( 1)  proportion of adults aged 16 and over who are overweight, by Strategic Health Authority (SHA) (3-year moving average) England, 1995-2002 
			  Percentage 
			  Area Code  Name  1995-97  1996-98  1997-99  1998-00  1999-01  2000-02 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 40.4 37.3 38.5 38.5 39.0 36.7 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 40.0 39.5 37.5 37.9 37.5 38.0 
			 Q24 Trent 38.9 39.9 40.0 36.7 37.2 37.1 
			 Q27 Birmingham and the Black Country 39.9 40.0 40.5 39.5 38.9 39.0 
			 Q08 South West London 37.7 35.9 34.1 35.0 37.9 37.1 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 39.8 39.3 40.6 39.0 37.9 36.3 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway 35.4 37.1 37.9 38.5 38.2 36.5 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire 37.7 40.0 40.8 42.1 41.1 40.6 
			 Q28 West Midlands South 40.3 39.6 38.2 38.3 38.1 39.7 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire 39.2 39.8 41.7 40.4 41.4 39.9 
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 38.8 38.9 37.4 38.5 38.7 41.6 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 37.1 37.5 36.8 38.1 38.3 39.9 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 38.4 38.5 36.8 39.4 38.9 40.4 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester 38.3 38.0 36.5 37.3 39.1 40.4 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside 39.3 39.8 39.0 40.6 40.0 39.7 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire 39.9 39.8 39.8 37.2 38.1 37.0 
			 Q06 North East London 37.3 36.2 37.8 37.2 37.0 37.6 
			 Q03 Essex 40.4 39.6 38.6 39.4 41.0 42.5 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula 38.0 38.7 37.4 36.1 36.1 37.4 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire 40.4 38.5 38.6 37.3 39.3 35.6 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset 38.0 38.6 39.6 41.3 41.1 39.2 
			 Q07 South East London 33.7 33.7 34.9 36.8 38.5 38.2 
			 Q16 Thames Valley 39.0 39.3 39.6 39.6 41.5 39.3 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 39.8 39.9 39.1 38.1 37.8 41.4 
			 Q04 North West London 37.7 40.0 38.8 37.8 35.8 35.2 
			 Q05 North Central London 35.9 36.1 36.1 35.6 36.4 35.3 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex 38.8 37.8 36.4 35.4 35.4 37.1 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 40.2 39.8 40.7 40.0 41.3 41.7 
			 (1) Age standardisation is a weighting technique used to give all SHAs the same age profile. This removes the effect of age from comparisons between SHAs.   Source:  Health Survey for England: Health  Lifestyle indicators for Strategic Health Authorities 1994-2002, Department of Health. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: Age standardised( 1)  proportion of adults aged 16 and over who are obese, by Strategic Health Authority (SHA) (3-year moving average) England, 1995-2002 
			  Percentage 
			  Area Code  Name  1995-97  1996-98  1997-99  1998-00  1999-01  2000-02 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 18.9 19.2 19.1 19.3 23.8 27.3 
			 Q11 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 18.6 19.7 20.2 21.7 23.9 26.1 
			 Q24 Trent 18.9 19.5 19.1 21.7 23.0 25.1 
			 Q27 Birmingham and the Black Country 20.7 21.3 21.3 23.4 24.0 24.9 
			 Q08 South West London 12.5 14.8 15.4 20.2 19.9 24.3 
			 Q25 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 16.5 16.8 18.2 20.5 22.1 24.3 
			 Q18 Kent and Medway 20.0 20.3 19.7 20.0 21.5 23.1 
			 Q26 Shropshire and Staffordshire 19.3 19.0 20.6 21.5 22.1 22.9 
			 Q28 West Midlands South 17.7 19.3 21.9 21.1 23.1 22.6 
			 Q13 Cumbria and Lancashire 17.4 18.7 19.3 21.2 21.5 22.4 
			 Q01 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 17.2 19.5 19.9 20.1 20.6 21.6 
			 Q17 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 17.1 17.9 18.8 19.4 20.9 21.4 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 18.4 19.9 21.0 20.8 21.3 21.3 
			 Q14 Greater Manchester 15.3 17.0 19.0 20.3 20.2 21.1 
			 Q15 Cheshire and Merseyside 16.1 17.0 18.6 19.4 20.9 21.0 
			 Q12 West Yorkshire 16.1 18.1 18.2 18.1 18.5 20.8 
			 Q06 North East London 17.7 18.0 20.1 20.7 20.9 20.7 
			 Q03 Essex 16.5 18.3 17.9 19.4 19.2 20.2 
			 Q21 South West Peninsula 18.1 17.8 18.9 18.5 19.9 19.9 
			 Q23 South Yorkshire 17.9 18.6 17.1 18.0 17.1 19.6 
			 Q22 Dorset and Somerset 18.6 19.1 19.3 18.9 19.7 19.3 
			 Q07 South East London 18.8 18.8 18.8 18.6 18.2 19.2 
			 Q16 Thames Valley 17.1 16.7 16.5 17.3 17.3 18.9 
			 Q02 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 16.1 16.3 18.4 18.1 20.1 18.8 
			 Q04 North West London 17.1 17.1 18.8 19.8 21.0 18.4 
			 Q05 North Central London 14.8 15.5 14.1 17.9 17.5 18.4 
			 Q19 Surrey and Sussex 14.9 16.9 17.4 17.4 17.3 17.6 
			 Q20 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 15.4 15.8 16.1 17.8 19.4 17.3 
			 (1) Age standardisation is a weighting technique used to give all SHAs the same age profile. This removes the effect of age from comparisons between SHAs.  Source: Health Survey for England: Health  Lifestyle indicators for Strategic Health Authorities 1994-2002, Department of Health.

Overseas Doctors

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations have been held with the Community Relations Council on the implications of the new immigration rules for the employment of Commonwealth doctors, with particular reference to those from Pakistan and India.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 18 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1166W.

Overseas Doctors

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation process was undertaken on the requirement for work permits for trainee doctors from overseas before the new regulations came into force; who was consulted; and what the duration of the consultation period was.

Rosie Winterton: The immigration rules for permit free training were amended in July 2005 and the implications were discussed with the British Medical Association (BMA), postgraduate deans and overseas doctors groups.
	Departmental officials discussed proposals to amend the regulations further at a meeting in January held by NHS Employers which was attended by the Home Office, and medical stakeholders, including British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, British International Doctors Association, the BMA and representatives from the national health service.

People with Disabilities

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which are the  (a) best and  (b) worst performing councils in England in terms of their provision of assistance with aids and adaptations to people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the performance of Luton borough council in this area;
	(2)  what  (a) maximum and  (b) average time a person with a disability has had to wait for assessment and assistance with occupational aids and adaptations in the last 12 months.

Ivan Lewis: The social services performance framework indicator AO/D54 sets out the percentage of items of equipment and adaptations delivered within seven working days. The most recent figures for 2004-05 indicate that Luton unitary authority is the highest performing council; and Surrey the lowest.
	The figures for 2004-05 indicate that Luton unitary authority delivered 3,900 items of equipment and adaptations; the percentage of items of equipment and adaptations delivered within seven working days was 97.9 per cent. This was the highest percentage of any council for this period.
	Information on the maximum and average amount of time that a person with a disability has had to wait for assessment and assistance with occupational aids and adaptations is not collected centrally.
	It is for local social services departments to prioritise assessments for people with disabilities, based on need.

Photodynamic Therapy Treatment

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps her Department is taking to speed up the fast track referral pathways for photodynamic therapy patients  (a) in the Richmond and Twickenham primary care trust and  (b) in England;
	(2)  how many patients have been referred for photodynamic therapy treatment  (a) in England and  (b) in the Richmond and Twickenham primary care trust area in each of the last five years for which records are available;
	(3)  what percentage of the available capacity at the Kingston photodynamic therapy treatment centre has been used in each month since November 2005.

Rosie Winterton: NHS Specialised Services Commissioners are responsible for commissioning photodynamic therapy. Guidance to commissioners has stressed the importance of ensuring the development of fast track systems to ensure that the time between the initial referral and the treatment is as short as possible. Locally, commissioners and clinicians have worked to raise awareness and speed the patient's passage from first contact with a health care professional to treatment. Where there is a need we look to Commissioners to continue to work for improvements.
	Data for the available capacity at the Kingston photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment centre are not collected centrally nor are figures for the number of patients referred for PDT locally or nationally. However, the table shows the count of finished consultant episodes and patients for selected diagnosis and operations where the primary diagnosis was degeneration of macula and posterior pole and the main operation was an eye operation for Richmond and Twickenham Primary Care Trust and England.
	
		
			  Count of Finished Consultant Episodes and Patients for Selected Diagnosis and Operations, Primary diagnosis: Degeneration of Macula and Posterior Pole (ICD-10 Code H35.3), Main Operation: Eye Operations (OPCS-4 between C01-C86), NHS Hospitals in England 2000-01 to 2004-05 
			   Richmond and Twickenham PCT  England 
			   Finished Consultant Episodes  Patients  Finished Consultant Episodes  Patients 
			 2000-01 * * 2,983 2,788 
			 2001-02 * * 3,319 2,939 
			 2002-03 7 7 3,029 2,752 
			 2003-04 6 6 3,264 2,917 
			 2004-05 10 9 3,822 3,392 
			  Finished Consultant Episode (FCE) An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.  Patient counts Patient counts are based on the unique patient identifier HESID. This identifier is derived based on patient's date of birth, postcode, sex, local patient identifier and NHS number, using an agreed algorithm. Where data are incomplete, HESID might erroneously link episodes or fail to recognise episodes for the same patient. Care is therefore needed, especially where duplicate records persist in the data. The patient count cannot be summed across a table where patients may have episodes in more than one cell.  Diagnosis (Primary Diagnosis) The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (7 prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.  Main Operation The main operation is the first recorded operation in the HES data set and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, e.g. time waited, but the figures for all operations count of episodes give a more complete count of episodes with an operation.  Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Strategic Health Authority (SHA) Data Quality PCT and SHA data were added to historic data years in the HES database using 2002-03 boundaries, as a one-off exercise in 2004. The quality of the data on PCT of Treatment and SHA of Treatment are poor in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99, with over a third of all finished episodes having missing values in these years. Data quality of PCT of GP practice and SHA of GP practice in 1997-98 and 1998-99 are also poor, with a high proportion missing values where practices changed or ceased to exist. There is less change in completeness of the residence-based fields over time, where the majority of unknown values are due to missing postcodes on birth episodes. Users of time series analysis including these years need to be aware of these issues in their interpretation of the data.  Low Numbers Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between 1 and 5 have been suppressed and replaced with * (an asterisk).  Ungrossed Data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Porphyria

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will estimate how many people suffer from each of the forms of porphyria.

Ivan Lewis: We have made no estimates for the number of people living with the seven different forms of porphyria.

Primary Care Trusts

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations she had received on the reconfiguration of primary care trusts in Cambridgeshire, up to 22 March 2006; how many of these were supportive of the proposals outlined by the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire strategic health authority; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridge primary care trust (PCT) consulted on having three PCTs (Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire) or five PCTs (Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Great Yarmouth and Waveney).
	Secretary of State and other Health Ministers received 18 representations on the reconfiguration of PCTs in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire up to 22 March 2006.
	The 18 representations were made against the strategic health authorities and were broken down as follows:
	two lobbied for single PCT for Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT;
	11 lobbied for a single PCT for Huntingdon;
	three lobbied for a single PCT for Peterborough;
	two suggested alternatives to the options that were being consulted on.
	An announcement on PCT reconfiguration was made on 16 May. The new configuration of PCTs in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridge will be five PCTs. The new PCTs are expected to come into force in October.

Private Members' Bills

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the private Members' Bills in respect of which her Department adopted a policy of neutrality in each session since 2001-02; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Where private Members' Bills receive a second reading Ministers indicate the Government's position at that point.

Racial Abuse

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints of racial abuse in her Department have been  (a) investigated and  (b) upheld in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: There have been no complaints of racial abuse in the last five years.

Recruitment

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies spent on recruitment, search and selection agencies in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally. Obtaining the data would incur disproportionate costs.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the final financial position of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust will be for financial year 2005-06; and what assessment she has made of the implications of this for the  (a) patient services and  (b) health economy in Cornwall.

Caroline Flint: I am advised that South West Peninsula Strategic Health Authority has commissioned an independent review to work with the trust to understand the size and causes of the deficit. This work is due to be concluded in early June and the report being presented to the public trust board meeting on 13 June.
	The trust is part of the national National Health Service turnaround programme for organisations experiencing financial difficulty. The results of the independent review will be incorporated into a turnaround plan. This plan will also make clear what the implications of turnaround will be on local services and the health economy in Cornwall.

Section 64 Grants

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisations were  (a) successful and  (b) unsuccessful in their bids through the section 64 Scheme of Grants for 2006-07.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 23 May 2006
	A list of those organisations who were successful in their application for a Section 64 General Scheme of Grants in the 2006-07 application round is available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/section64.
	A copy of the list of those organisations that were unsuccessful has been placed in the Library.

Tuberculosis

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of tuberculosis there have been in each London borough in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Cases of tuberculosis in each London borough, 2000-04 
			  Local authority  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			 Barking and Dagenham 39 30 35 42 43 
			 Barnet 87 79 103 102 94 
			 Bexley 14 17 21 25 29 
			 Brent 221 229 204 217 233 
			 Bromley 23 18 24 31 28 
			 Camden 67 93 117 106 77 
			 City of London 2 4 1 2 2 
			 Croydon 96 96 108 113 119 
			 Ealing 215 191 197 187 256 
			 Enfield 78 94 80 97 96 
			 Greenwich 49 69 73 72 88 
			 Hackney 130 137 143 155 155 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 84 80 82 64 69 
			 Haringey 136 152 139 127 149 
			 Harrow 93 101 115 115 99 
			 Havering 30 17 19 13 12 
			 Hillingdon 71 95 95 116 118 
			 Hounslow 81 127 121 98 117 
			 Islington 84 87 105 94 89 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 46 41 30 51 48 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 11 16 18 19 23 
			 Lambeth 108 135 159 155 127 
			 Lewisham 62 73 91 79 77 
			 Merton 43 35 54 40 62 
			 Newham 245 210 215 246 242 
			 Redbridge 89 92 92 110 111 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 9 11 14 12 12 
			 Southwark 84 103 106 101 133 
			 Sutton 11 17 31 30 23 
			 Tower Hamlets 89 69 123 146 118 
			 Waltham Forest 90 69 103 99 99 
			 Wandsworth 62 51 93 96 96 
			 Westminster, City of 89 76 75 89 85 
			 Missing 3 3 0 0 0 
			 Total 2,641 2,717 2,986 3,049 3,129 
			  Notes: Data as at 6 June 2006. Data on 2005 cases are not yet available.  Source: Health Protection Agency enhanced tuberculosis surveillance scheme.

Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated total cost saving to the NHS is of setting up the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Trust, broken down by main budget heading.

Rosie Winterton: The County Durham and Tees Valley strategic health authority has set the trust the target of achieving 1 million of cost savings following the merger.